Ravish Kumar criticises mainstream media's Kashmir coverage; Calls it a waste of resources
Journalist Ravish Kumar has recently criticized mainstream media outlets for their coverage of Kashmir, particularly during the ongoing elections in the region. In a post on X, Kumar targeted what is commonly referred to as 'Godi Media'—a term used in India to describe news channels that are perceived as being overly supportive of the ruling BJP government. He expressed concern that these outlets are more focused on promoting party narratives than addressing the real issues faced by the people of Kashmir.
Kumar pointed out that many television anchors set up elaborate sets in front of Dal Lake in Srinagar, but their reports and debates fail to provide meaningful insights or address the region's pressing problems. He accused these media houses of visiting Kashmir merely as a formality, without any genuine intent to explore or report on the ground realities.
"Their focus seems to be on producing promotional content rather than genuine reporting," Kumar remarked. He further criticized these channels for spending large sums of money on what he termed as 'gutter programs,' suggesting that these funds would be better utilized as bonuses for their employees. "Why waste money on meaningless shows?" he questioned.
In his post, Kumar also attached a YouTube link to a report by Manisha Pandey, a journalist with News Laundry, recommending it to aspiring journalists. He praised the team at News Laundry for their commitment to genuine journalism, despite their reliance on viewer support to sustain their operations. "Those who face the daily challenge of raising funds are doing an excellent job, while those with abundant resources are only conducting election tours," Kumar commented.
Kumar's criticism extends beyond Kashmir, as he expressed concern about the declining standards of journalism at the district level across India. He warned that this deterioration is making it increasingly difficult to uphold the integrity of the profession.
The term 'Godi Media' has become widely known in India as a label for media outlets that are seen as being aligned with the BJP and pushing the party’s narratives, particularly during election periods. According to critics like Kumar, these media outlets have abandoned their role as independent watchdogs, instead becoming tools for political propaganda.
कश्मीर जाने वाले गोदी मीडिया के पत्रकार डल झील के आगे सेट लगा कर बैठ जाते हैं।
— ravish kumar (@ravishndtv) September 26, 2024
झील तो झील है लेकिन उसका सहारा लेकर कश्मीर के सामने पड़े सवालों से बच निकलते हैं। इसीलिए आप उनकी रिपोर्ट या बहस से कुछ नहीं जानते हैं। कुछ पता नहीं चलता। केवल एंकर जाने की रस्म निभा देते हैं। उनका…
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Trump pauses Project Freedom, claims great progress for final agreement with Iran
Washington (PTI): President Donald Trump has suspended “Project Freedom,” to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming progress in negotiations with Iran toward an agreement to end the war.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump said, “Great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement with representatives of Iran.”
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump said.
Project Freedom was launched on Monday to escort ships, stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, out to safety. Trump had announced the operation on Sunday and the US Central Command began implementing it the next day.
However, the Project led to friction in the vicinity of the narrow seaway, a key route for transporting one-fifth of the global oil supplies, with the UAE claiming that its ships were attacked by Iran. The US also claimed to have destroyed several Iranian small boats.
Trump’s statement on Truth Social came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Operation Epic Fury, launched on February 28, had concluded as its objectives have been achieved.
"Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation. We're not cheering for an additional situation to occur. We would prefer the path of peace. What @POTUS would prefer is a deal... that is, so far, not the route that Iran has chosen," Rubio told a press conference at the White House on Tuesday.
On Project Freedom, Rubio said the goal was to rescue almost 23,000 civilians from 87 different countries who were trapped inside the Persian Gulf and left for dead by the Iranian regime.
"This is not an offensive operation. This is a defensive operation, and what that means is very simple: there’s no shooting unless we're shot at first. We’re not attacking them, but if they're attacking us or they’re attacking a ship, you need to respond to that," Rubio said.
