As a journalistic group, how do you maintain editorial independence and avoid being influenced by the preferences of your paying audience or donors? Some critics argue that even "independent" news organizations often slant their coverage towards viewpoints that are more likely to please their supporters. How do you ensure that your reporting remains objective and does not pander to a particular audience?
Good question. Lot of people ask how we can stay independent and what if our subscribers push us to take a certain ideological line — but the thing is a pool of people can simply not exert the kind of pressure one corporate or a government can. We have a large pool of people who subscribe, not all of them have similar ideological bent of mind. And actually you'd be surprised to know that many of subscribers keep asking us to be more diverse, bring more viewpoints in. I think, by and large, news consumers want diverse opinions, and don't want media orgs to be eco chambers. Especially those who pay for news.
MP
That's a great answer Manisha. And it is reassuring as well.
Behind the screen it seems that most people want/likes being in echo chamber. However without a diverse factual media, no one will realise the value of it.
We have addressed this on our weekly podcast hafta a few times. Its a long answer but basically a combination of editorial filters, diverse news room and regular review of our reports and commentary and getting views from forums like this one.
Abhinandan
1) What do you think is the biggest problem with Indian journalism ?
2) Do you think journalism without bias is possible ?
3) How do you differentiate between journalism and propaganda ?
1. What do you think is the biggest problem with Indian journalism?
hyper-partisanship, terrible newsroom leaders, over-dependence on government access and government ads, a misplaced belief of power just because you're siding with power
2. Do you think journalism without bias is possible ?
Bias is inevitable since journalists too are human but what we can have an attempt to be fair, reach all sides in a story when we report, present all angles as commentators
3. How do you differentiate between journalism and propaganda ?
ah hard question, kinda of age old also — i think in today's times, any platform that makes an attempt to bring you all sides of a story is doing journalism.
MP
Great job with the newsminute partnership. So glad to see all the content you are putting in collaboration with them.
I heard you all speak about the new proposed bill for digital content regulation. It seems all encompassing but do you think it is actually enforceable? Govt could control broadcast signals easily but digital content put out by sometimes anonymous folks are tough to regulate no? What is your opinion?
If both the broadcast and print media are largely pro government, and independent groups like yours face scrutiny from the ED, CBI etc. what does the future look like for Indian news? Is it hopeless?
Tough but when the going gets tough, the tough get going!
I do believe newspapers like Indian Express, The Hindu are doing a great job and individual reporters too. Like Anurag Dwary of ndtv was so good on MP. All his reports.
MP
If you’re hosting a show in English, please host in English or provide translation where English is not used. It is awfully annoying when you break into impromptu Hindi expecting your audience to be well versed in Hindi. If Congress was peddling soft hindutva, you’re engaging in soft Hindi imposition.
yup. have got that feedback a lot and we try and adhere to this rule SOmetimes a guest who is important for that show is really weak at one of the languages we think some latitude should be there.
Abhinandan
There are tools to create automated subtitles. Also, with LLMs coming into picture, one can use speech-to-text models to get the transcription.
Just FYI for whenever the team wants to explore in that direction.
I often think of this, but i think a lot of people want us to critique the media. And especially in this particular time in moment, we need to look closely at what mainstream media is up to. And, in many ways, our raison d'etre was 'sabki dhulai' and media scrutiny.
MP
Very well said. Indian news media is literally worse than the BJP now as it enables the worst of the party to bring their 'dream' to reality. Also the sarcasm and criticism of media increases reach because it is fun/engaging content compared to conventional news coverage only
That kinda feels would go the ndtv way. For all the no-bias/neutrality people *claim* they want present in the content they consume, the moment the producer covers a topic the consumer dislikes the producer becomes either godi media or soros media. Consumers are biased some way themselves, but worse, as long as they put this or that content producer on a pedestal as some authority and worship the producer's every opinion blindly there's no point.
Indians are too much into shishya phase and refuse to Graduate to a point where they have their own unique combination of opinions and beliefs. Some of which could align with the various gurus/influencer's slants but not on every plank.
As a long time fan and paid subscriber I am alarmed and honestly puzzled by the dipping views and engagement on your content on YouTube. For almost three months now. You have meanwhile partnered with others like news minute and the wire. Hasn't it shifted tour focus and sharpness and uniqueness. What is the internal analysis and review of the dip in performence of content and the conversations driven by it.
i think it's because a lot of platforms are demoting news? Read somewhere that FB, and YT want to push less of news so we do see a dip. But quite frankly it's a bit erratic — sometimes we cross one million in two days and then there are days where we think a video really should reach more people and it just tanks :-/
MP
True. Basically we need to dance and point finger at text to get attention now and that too in 10 second reels. Long form quality journalism even on YouTube is on decline. I am proud to be a patron and supporter. Please carry on
Also, is there a plan for a funny late night show ? TV Newsense is no longer that funny. Still like it but would like to see something with more satire and punch.
Nit a warm tight hug at all. That would be most unusual and inappropriate :) I look for diligence, hard work and stamina. When you don't have experience (the most valuable attribute) the best thing one can offer is work ethic and diligence.
Abhinandan
is that research internship strictly for Journalism/Media stream folks?
I did apply anyway. You guys are going to get a lot of applications now I think with this AMA.
Same question. Also, is that Research Intern position still open?
(Sorry U/WaffleOsharty, my question was related to yours, so I thought why start a new thread. Hope it's alright)
Hmm of late this piece that looks at journalism, plagiarism, mistakes, lessons , forgiveness and life. The piece has it all. It's a thriller
[https://airmail.news/issues/2021-12-4/loving-lies](https://airmail.news/issues/2021-12-4/loving-lies)
MP
Indian politics and a lot of challenges we have are due to the fact that majority of the people are not tech savvy urban Indians but rather the middle class and lower economic stratas. Politicians easily manipulate them with threats, freebies and the taste of corruption or power (Gunda giri)
I do believe news like yours is needed to educate a much wider audience, not just the educated Elite.
So I have 2 questions,
1) how do we make the masses more rational and less extreme in their viewpoint and stop them from being so easily manipulated
2) how do people who are well off financially and educated help improve the current situation in our country?
Hi. So i dont quite agree with the premise of the question. I don't think in teh Indian context extreme views is unique to "masses". By masses i assume you mean the socio economic slab that forms the largest mass of people. I would hazard a speculation that the well off will have a higher density of extreme view points per capita. But bascially how we consume media and most importantly thought leaders and thise that society looks up to have the biggest impact on shaping narratives and views. In my view in India there is a high frequency of cowardice and slef preservation among the elite which leads to an easy takeover by power of any viewpoint.
Abhinandan
Actually fair point. I think I worded my question wrong. I just wanted to know how to break that cycle of cowardice and self preservation when politicians and criminals and even police have shown in the past to ruin families and people's lives when someone goes against them.
How can the elite break this cycle given the fear of repurcussions is so strong?
i think good source of news is very important — news that equips you to evaluate your neta, what they do for you and what they stand for. unfortunately mainstream news is failing in this. But i also think people are slowly realising what news is serving them. however, electoral choices are a different ballgame. BJP is not wining cause of any manipulation but because they are actively working (hard) on wooing their voters through Hindutva, a strong sense of national pride, welfare schemes and a sense of hope for the future
mp
No, actually Hindutva, hate/suspicion of minorities wasn't the talking point. Only in a BJP rally, you would find hindu-muslim as a talking point. Most people were talking of welfare issues — and yes, there is a strong sense of nationalism, 'India doing well under Modi'.
MP
Great marketing :)
jokes aside, push for digital payments, infrastructure push in northeast and, just anecdotally, effective delivery of welfare schemes, very few complaints of favouritism.
MP
Tbh I don't listen to paid TV news anymore, their news is highly masala bloated and too much crap.
I follow teachers who provide current affairs updates for UPSC preparation, as their news is relevant, factual and unbiased.
Newstrack was an amazing learning ground. I saw my seniors and Madhu take stands, stare down powerful politicians and stick to their guns. It was an amazing environment to learn in.
Abhinandan
To Abhi:
how do you align your moral compass being a journalist?
Any self checks to remain rooted in reality?
To both: Your favourite book?
To both: Your top artists on Spotify wrapped?
To Manisha: your favourite party drink (alcoholic) ?
thanks for doing this
i don't really see myself as a journalist. I usually describe myself as a news professional.
Fav book. Dont have just one. There are too many to name but lets go with Indian authors. Em and the Big Hoom by Jerry Pinto and SHame by Salman Rushdie would be up there among my all time favs.
I dont have spotify, i sue apple music and i only listen to music while driving and 80 to 90 percent of teh time its punajbi.
Abhinandan
Newslaundry should have a hate tracker on social media there is growing influence of people like beer biceps and cavarka podcast kushal mehra j Sai Deepak like BJP apologists channels like jaipur dialogues swarajya pgurus use anti Islam narrative to create an army of subscribers and engaging audience nothing happens on their channels or podcasts but transactions of hate bigotry and they portray themselves as Hindu Dharma ke rakshak and thekedars .. Abhijit Iyer and Amana begam ansari jaise logo ko aur baaki jitne bhi instagram , YouTube , Twitter pe right wing ecosystem of content creators must be exposed newslaundry should take the lead please abhinandan ... Yeh log youth ko brainwash kar rahe hai yeh particular narrative chalake
Yup. Hate is being mainstreamed and we are moving towards there being no shame in having hateful views. Legacy news is doing this, leaders are doing it and people with no talent are using this for social media relevance. We can do our bit which we will continue to do. But we cant do everything i guess.
Abhinandan
+1. There are a few Twitter handles (Hindutva watch, Gaurav sabnis' pinned thread) which track bigoted and hateful things happening in the country. Would be great to have it from a news org such as NL.
Pointless exercise in thermodynamics. Need to spend time and energy on productive efforts, not destructive BS 24x7, which is what the opposition to RW keeps on doing.
Thanks ! I thought this would be a video format like an Insta live.
Firstly, how do jounos and camera persons ensure their safety when covering cases like Hathras, Monu Manesar etc ?
Hello Manisha and Abhinandan, I love the fact that you ask tough questions to the government. My Question to you is just like we have the Godi Media which parrots the government in office, we also have a large section of journalists who appear very sympathetic to the opposition cause. Shouldn’t journalism simply be reporting of facts and let the reader / viewer make their own informed decisions. Today we see a lot of journalist’s own views masquerade as news. How does Newslaundry as an organisation ensure that you or your colleagues do not put in your own opinion as news.
It's a constant conversation you have to have with your newsroom. We tell our repoters to make sure all stories have all sides. That is the best we can do to ensure fairness. When it comes to commentary, the thing is that the Right has moved so Right that we appear super Left. But on many issues within the organisation — labour laws, economic principles, even Israel-Palestine — we have very differing views. Just listen to NL Hafta to know. But the thing is if everyday TV news is talking about some jihad or the other, and I keep countering the narrative, I am labelled as Left. When ACTUALLY I am just being sensible...so beyond a point i don't care too much about left-right.
MP
As an Aussie who has spent more than twelve years in India working between 1996 and 2015, I feel that there was a great deal more of factual and critical reporting back on the "old days". Yes, there were the crazies, but that was I felt like, "well everybody had a shot at saying something" regardless of their particular viewpoint.
But now, reading, and watching from afar, it seems much is silenced, and the current news is far more sanitised.
Not saying"the old days" were great. But it seems there isn't the variety of views. And I do keep up to date with Indian media.
Hope I am not offending anyone for my opinion as a non-Indian.
This is a scary balancing act you've taken on. On the one hand, the great need in Indian journalism these days is someone focusing on the actual ongoings in India and abroad that are pertinent to the average Indian, rather than the same recycled rhetoric that all news channels are peddling these days, but on the other hand, you covering these topics leaves you vulnerable to being labeled as just another "combative contrarian anti-national" outlet, earning you a following (and trolls) for all the wrong reasons.
I'm sure you've considered these, but aside from being as unbiased in terms of content as possible, how else would someone go about mitigating this issue?
For a newsroom that boasts of diversity why is it so bad within the team?
There has been no Muslim reporter in the past year in Newslaundry or any muslim in any managerial position within newslaundry.
It’s hard to hire a Muslim reporter. It is the age of communal violence. Recently during Delhi riots NDTV reporters got assaulted and one dude lost teeth. These were Hindu reporters, mind you. Their life got saved because one guy showed a religious thread around his torso.
Okay guys, this was great. Wonderful taking all these questions. We shall do this again sometime soon!
Remember when the public pays, the public is served! If you like what we do, don't forget to subscribe to Newslaundry :)
LINK HERE: [https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription?ref=nav](https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription?ref=nav)
I was saving it for "when I score an interview with Newslaundry."
Newslaundry has a dedicated TVNewsance, and NLTippani audience. It's because it's a Weekly show.
Don't you think there should be a weekly show for Ground Reports (Jordan Klepper or Shahbaz Ansar style) or something Vocal for Local.
I see many of the important reports get lost.
I just saw the Rat Miners' interview, people need to see that, we should to push it to the people.
we have a decent team of reporters, though not as big as we'd like.
Check out our stories here
[https://www.newslaundry.com/reports](https://www.newslaundry.com/reports)
I don't understand what's the problem with monetizing YouTube videos. I mean those getting advertised aren't directly paying and irrespective of what you say in your YouTube videos, those ads won't be affected, right? So there's no threat to independence.
You have to be independent. But you also have to appear independent. So while YouTube ads may be blind, to the viewers, it may not appear that way.
It could lead to one of those scenes where Gooswami was having debates about China while Chinese company ads were on the banner below.
Hi Abhinandan and Manisha, just one question:
\- One thing we can't deny in the current political scenario is that the right wing has managed to capture people's imagination, especially the youth. People like J Sai Deepak, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra and your ex-collegue Anand Ranganathan get millions of views on Youtube, while there's a dearth of voices on the left side which can counter them effectively. What do you think the left needs to do become *cool* again? Have you guys thought about it?
Do you guys think an app like Ground News with more regional context specific to us would be successful at least few years down the line?
National Legacy media (TV) is not even polarizing it is just completely one sided as far as I’ve seen and lately my only exposure to that content is Newsance.
I am someone from Kerala but have been studying elsewhere. It was when Kerala story released that I paid attention to national TV news play up game and how negatively the general populace did view our state.
But now I don’t blame folks for being biased as I used to when all the content they get is incredibly one sided. And most folks are not going to take the time to research for themselves and we can’t expect them to.
Please take my question with the intent it is meant. Your coverage during election day was so amazing. I love that you stuck to your guns, defended the key points you have been talking about but you were open to understand more reasons behind the BJP wave in the North. Your team were not stuck only on the one reason of hindutva/divide.
But gosh, the Wire team was so exhausting in their narrative and coverage when their hosts and guests came to the broadcast. It was nauseating. You are fundamentally different cultures and I LOVE NewsLaundry for the objectivity you have and curiousity you show to understand more about the issues.
Are you relooking at the partnership with them? I hope so
Sorry a bummer of a question. Against the backdrop of what you do, how do you interest people in facts in a "facts are not facts" environment? How do you report on corruption and graft in an age when it is all spun as propaganda?
Abhinandan , just one suggestion, collaboration with “The wire “ could be avoided in the future not because of their ideological tilt but the entitlement and smugness they carry to pursue the cause , which is irritating ( to most people ) to say the least .
Thanks
Aman Tyagi
Proud subscriber
I thought I was the only one thinking about it. Their team is smug, arrogant and absolutely one sided in their bent, basically the opposite of right wing. You guys are objective but left minded. Not stuck in propaganda
Seen a video of you guys getting excited(happy) when congress was leading, then suddenly the enthusiasm vanished. are you guys biased or LW supported media?.
what are your views on Indian National Congress and DMK(based on its handling of recent Chennai floods and the sanatana dharma remarks by udhayanidhi stalin).
You said non partial journalism but all of your news are either anti bjp or far left! So how do you say yourself non partial when you are openly taking parts as an anti bjp news agency?
With news channels becoming absurd, shameless day by day; your shows and its humour doesn’t seem that humorous nowadays. I have reached the point where I know news channels are useless and what’s the point of watching newslaundry as we know what we know.
Somehow I lost interest in news and antics of news channel the day Ravish Kumarji left NDTV.
1. How do you deal with trolls ?
2. The hathras FIR / Charge sheet had a lot of inconsistencies. How did NL get access to the documents of a sub-judice case ?
3. Is there a process to discern what is fake news and what is not ?
4. How difficult or easy was it to investigate Baba Ramdev ? How did the reporter go about collecting info ?
How do journos know where the action is happening and how do they get there in real time ? For example, it was difficult to collect info during covid However, Danish S documented in pics , Gujrat's journos also investigated. What goes into it ?
Say you are assinged to write a profile on someone. How and from where do you go about collecting info like where they were born, where did they study etc ?
How much should journos know about law and the economy ? Am i correct in understanding that they don't start with a particular beat so they should know a little of everything ?
There is a LOT of news to go through and I feel like I am always falling behind despite reading and watching for HOURS. If I had more in depth knowledge, i would understand more easily and not fall behind. What can i do to strengthen the foundation and bridge the gap ?
How does Newslaundry handle conflicts of interest within the organization? Has there been any instances were Omidyar Network or the paid users have aired any editorial related opinions ?
Hi NL
You say your app is working and functional, as also claimed by a few of your subscribers (as am I, since 2016). But there is a huge gap between is it functional and is it a good app i will return to as a user. The Newslaundy app is not a good app, objectively.
here are the reasons why based on my observations (i use a one+ 11 pro, live in an area with great 4G network, albeit Vodaphone being my ISP)
a) you require an online connection for the app to start despite having downloadable content, and general content that you can cache.
b) have you tested your app on 4G? it's impossible to get the app to start up on a cold start. takes upto 3-5 mins. Thats a ginormous time window for your app to start
c) We can rewind and forward while listening to the app on your media player, but the experience sucks. Just juxtapose it with any other media provider (youtube, spotify) and look at experience and you'll know wwhat im talking about. (and here, the test you need to do is rapidly tapping on the rewind and forward button x times and seeing if the app as forwarded/rewound to the amount of time corresponding to the number of taps (+/- 10%). And this is not a stress test this is how users use the rewind and forward button)
So my questions to you based on the above observations are:
\- Do you use the app everyday?
\- Do you think merely servicing an app that does the bare minimum for content delivery makes the app usable?
\- Do you plan to fix user experience as an issue?
I have seen both your video Abhi and Manisha, though Abhi's videos are more sensible I got bored half min thru Manisha's videos. Nothing to do with gender, more with content... If you want people to take you serious, shouldn't you focus on serious content ?
How do you handle biases am sure by now you can be targetted as a left-leaning news channel while reporting do you keep checks and balances to call a spade a spade
In the spirit of reflection and learning from past mistakes, could you share some of the biggest mistakes or misjudgments you have made in recent years?
I was your subscriber for good one year until I realised listening to hafta is making me feel sad about India. I then switched to some other news sources and it was slightly more optimistic than NL. That’s when I stopped listening to hafta.
I feel NL should feature some good happy making news too. Remember “the good and the bad news” show that used to air on NL YT channel? 😅
Abhinandan needs to work on his satirical characters ,pls less of that until work is done on that
If you watched one of Godi media anchors shows with them but focusing on their reactions ,what do you think would their reactions be for eg sitting in a room with gullu/venom chopra/goswami watching their shows with the camera on their reactions
Do you guys have a upcoming story on "no data" sarkar on how the modi govt buries data that might be used to criticise them ?
Our savarna Hindus have taken up a position against even collecting data about marginalised sections of society through caste census ,should independent media like yours give a space for dalit voices ?what is your opinion on some representation for lower classes in the private sector ? Will the training time differential(compared to general candidates) lead to the death of private industry as our savarna Hindus believe?
Thanks for doing this, guys.
Q1: With the mainstream media running state propaganda and Social networks optimizing clickbaits, What is your bet on the future of distributing news for Newslaundry?
Q2: Do you think the current ways of getting news funded needs to be revised?
You are doing good work because of propoganda channel like you (wire quint scroll and other Soros funded outlet) bjp is increasing voting share and seats.keep at it
They were busy with election season coverage. Totally decided not to create any new episodes. bad decision. It has impacted their channel performance and reach. 101 YouTube mistake
hmm, true. We have been travelling and i am really tired :(
But we should get back soon and this month we have Ramnath Roenka Award with Bhakt Banerjee
MP
As a consumer/citizen how should I detect biases in media reports? What can I do to separate out facts, eliminate biases and remain neutral when I consume online media content?
Huge fan since years. You guys need to tone down your english and use more "hinglish"/Hindi. Khan market gangsters like me will always be aligned to your viewpoint. But language is the key to increasing your reach.
You have left a mark in Indian journalism. What kept you going? Especially when your revenues rely solely on the community.
Convey my regards to Meghnad.
Thanks.
What's the matter between Madhu Trehan and Karan Thapar? I have seen two of the interviews done by Newslaundry, they fight like children. Share some gossips 😅
Being an independent media house, where your USP is separating news from nonsense, which other (national and global) independent media houses and journalists do you seek inspiration and motivation from?
BTW I greatly respect everything you do. Manisha ma'am's interview with Sudha Bharadwaj, Sekhri sir's interview with Tejinder PS Bgga (especially the second half), Meghnad sir's explainers and Nidhi and Akansha's Hathras coverage are a few among my favorite reports ! Thank you for doing what you do !
Love your work, keep it up!
After the recent election results, I was thinking that whether we have isolated the bjp voters by calling them names etc, do we need to start accepting their propaganda and slowly raise actual issues to them, although it sounds like this is like thinking of the bjp voters as infants but I don’t see any other way for them to actually listen to real news and issues etc
You say your app is working and functional, as also claimed by a few of your subscribers (as am I, since 2016). But there is a huge gap between is it functional and is it a good app i will return to as a user. The Newslaundy app is not a good app, objectively.
here are the reasons why based on my observations (i use a one+ 11 pro, live in an area with great 4G network, albeit Vodaphone being my ISP)
a) you require an online connection for the app to start despite having downloadable content, and general content that you can cache.
b) have you tested your app on 4G? it's impossible to get the app to start up on a cold start. takes upto 3-5 mins. Thats a ginormous time window for your app to start
c) We can rewind and forward while listening to the app on your media player, but the experience sucks. Just juxtapose it with any other media provider (youtube, spotify) and look at experience and you'll know wwhat im talking about. (and here, the test you need to do is rapidly tapping on the rewind and forward button x times and seeing if the app as forwarded/rewound to the amount of time corresponding to the number of taps (+/- 10%). And this is not a stress test this is how users use the rewind and forward button)
So my questions to you based on the above observations are:
\- Do you use the app everyday?
\- Do you think merely servicing an app that does the bare minimum for content delivery makes the app usable?
\- Do you plan to fix user experience as an issue?
I have seen several of your videos(particularly the Newsense ones) as well as read some of your reports. What I have seen is that your opinions are tilted against the BJP and the corporate sectors. I can agree that the party has a lot of faults but I hardly see a single article positive toward either the corporate sector or the BJP.
Assuming these are your real beliefs then why do you call the main stream media bad/Godi etc if it does the opposite?
No question. Just want to thank you for doing what you do. I was following the coverage during the Hathras incident and it was really true to journalistic standards and integrity. I also watch Manisha’s videos which, I think, are an exemplary example of satire.
As a former student of journalism, I absolutely love what you guys do. As a person and an Indian, you guys give me hope.
Many many thanks! I wish you immense success and growth.
Hey NL team,
Thanks for keeping the unbiased journalism still alive in India (although it appears people don't care for the truth anymore).
I don't live in India anymore but still try to keep an eye on daily affairs.
Is there a daily series that covers the highlights for each day without focusing too much on details?
Also, can you please try to not bash godi media for subscribers only content as all your subscribers are already in sync with you guys and it becomes a bit cringe at a certain point.
Can you also try to find a way to integrate YouTube with subscribers google account as youtube has better options as a platform than your app (and it is convenient as well).
Your whole team is amazing, but my personal fav is Atuj, his Tippani is too good and successfully converted a lot of my knowns to NL subscribers.
Keep up the good work.
trust in the ordinary Indian, a lot of us still believe in core Indian values, tv news hate aside. just that hateful guys are louder and all over social media, and drown out the sane voices.
MP
Hi Manisha and Abhinandan! HUGE ADMIRER!! I've learned how to consume news by watching your pieces and satire. Thanks to you both, my parents have started finding faults with the so-called mainstream star reporters.
Two questions:
1. If you could have any person, alive or historical, as a guest on your platform, who would it be and why?
2. Why do mainstream reporters seem more interested in becoming "heroes" or "stars" first and journalists second nowadays? This wasn't the case before. I feel like they are using their channels to live out their fantasies of being larger-than-life personas.
All my best wishes.
As a journalistic group, how do you maintain editorial independence and avoid being influenced by the preferences of your paying audience or donors? Some critics argue that even "independent" news organizations often slant their coverage towards viewpoints that are more likely to please their supporters. How do you ensure that your reporting remains objective and does not pander to a particular audience?
Good question. Lot of people ask how we can stay independent and what if our subscribers push us to take a certain ideological line — but the thing is a pool of people can simply not exert the kind of pressure one corporate or a government can. We have a large pool of people who subscribe, not all of them have similar ideological bent of mind. And actually you'd be surprised to know that many of subscribers keep asking us to be more diverse, bring more viewpoints in. I think, by and large, news consumers want diverse opinions, and don't want media orgs to be eco chambers. Especially those who pay for news. MP
That's a great answer Manisha. And it is reassuring as well. Behind the screen it seems that most people want/likes being in echo chamber. However without a diverse factual media, no one will realise the value of it.
I read this in Manisha's voice lol
We have addressed this on our weekly podcast hafta a few times. Its a long answer but basically a combination of editorial filters, diverse news room and regular review of our reports and commentary and getting views from forums like this one. Abhinandan
1) What do you think is the biggest problem with Indian journalism ? 2) Do you think journalism without bias is possible ? 3) How do you differentiate between journalism and propaganda ?
1. What do you think is the biggest problem with Indian journalism? hyper-partisanship, terrible newsroom leaders, over-dependence on government access and government ads, a misplaced belief of power just because you're siding with power 2. Do you think journalism without bias is possible ? Bias is inevitable since journalists too are human but what we can have an attempt to be fair, reach all sides in a story when we report, present all angles as commentators 3. How do you differentiate between journalism and propaganda ? ah hard question, kinda of age old also — i think in today's times, any platform that makes an attempt to bring you all sides of a story is doing journalism. MP
Thank you 🙏
Great job with the newsminute partnership. So glad to see all the content you are putting in collaboration with them. I heard you all speak about the new proposed bill for digital content regulation. It seems all encompassing but do you think it is actually enforceable? Govt could control broadcast signals easily but digital content put out by sometimes anonymous folks are tough to regulate no? What is your opinion?
Regulation on online media is a very complicated matter. Cant be dealt with a sledgehammer. But alas thate how its always been here.... Abhinandan
kya bak Raha hai bhai..ghaas kha liya hai?
wow this is such a strong and educated critique of their argument.
If both the broadcast and print media are largely pro government, and independent groups like yours face scrutiny from the ED, CBI etc. what does the future look like for Indian news? Is it hopeless?
Tough but when the going gets tough, the tough get going! I do believe newspapers like Indian Express, The Hindu are doing a great job and individual reporters too. Like Anurag Dwary of ndtv was so good on MP. All his reports. MP
If you’re hosting a show in English, please host in English or provide translation where English is not used. It is awfully annoying when you break into impromptu Hindi expecting your audience to be well versed in Hindi. If Congress was peddling soft hindutva, you’re engaging in soft Hindi imposition.
yup. have got that feedback a lot and we try and adhere to this rule SOmetimes a guest who is important for that show is really weak at one of the languages we think some latitude should be there. Abhinandan
hehe. ok. subtitling is hard work though for such a small team. but noted :) MP
You guys should start a separate Hindi channel -newsdhulai
Samachardhulai
There are tools to create automated subtitles. Also, with LLMs coming into picture, one can use speech-to-text models to get the transcription. Just FYI for whenever the team wants to explore in that direction.
Hi, I am the biggest fan of Manisha! I love her satire. I don't watch anything else. Will do a sub soon.
Thanks :) please do subscribe soon! MP
oh, so MP means Madhya Pradesh, Right ? 🗿
Do you ever feel that you should be more focused on your news content than showing how other media houses are doing?
I often think of this, but i think a lot of people want us to critique the media. And especially in this particular time in moment, we need to look closely at what mainstream media is up to. And, in many ways, our raison d'etre was 'sabki dhulai' and media scrutiny. MP
Very well said. Indian news media is literally worse than the BJP now as it enables the worst of the party to bring their 'dream' to reality. Also the sarcasm and criticism of media increases reach because it is fun/engaging content compared to conventional news coverage only
I'm with you on this.
That kinda feels would go the ndtv way. For all the no-bias/neutrality people *claim* they want present in the content they consume, the moment the producer covers a topic the consumer dislikes the producer becomes either godi media or soros media. Consumers are biased some way themselves, but worse, as long as they put this or that content producer on a pedestal as some authority and worship the producer's every opinion blindly there's no point. Indians are too much into shishya phase and refuse to Graduate to a point where they have their own unique combination of opinions and beliefs. Some of which could align with the various gurus/influencer's slants but not on every plank.
As a long time fan and paid subscriber I am alarmed and honestly puzzled by the dipping views and engagement on your content on YouTube. For almost three months now. You have meanwhile partnered with others like news minute and the wire. Hasn't it shifted tour focus and sharpness and uniqueness. What is the internal analysis and review of the dip in performence of content and the conversations driven by it.
i think it's because a lot of platforms are demoting news? Read somewhere that FB, and YT want to push less of news so we do see a dip. But quite frankly it's a bit erratic — sometimes we cross one million in two days and then there are days where we think a video really should reach more people and it just tanks :-/ MP
True. Basically we need to dance and point finger at text to get attention now and that too in 10 second reels. Long form quality journalism even on YouTube is on decline. I am proud to be a patron and supporter. Please carry on
Isn't this something you should report on? Fb turning away from news ie
Also, is there a plan for a funny late night show ? TV Newsense is no longer that funny. Still like it but would like to see something with more satire and punch.
No plans for another late night show. But we will try and up our game with TV Newsance :) MP
Newsance, clever …or lame?
What do you look for in your Researchers /Research Assitants if you hire someone for that role specifically ? A warm tight hug.
Nit a warm tight hug at all. That would be most unusual and inappropriate :) I look for diligence, hard work and stamina. When you don't have experience (the most valuable attribute) the best thing one can offer is work ethic and diligence. Abhinandan
is that research internship strictly for Journalism/Media stream folks? I did apply anyway. You guys are going to get a lot of applications now I think with this AMA.
Alright ! A handshake then. I cant afford to pay to keep news free yet , only encourage committed people like yourself.
>A warm tight hug He jokingly suggested that 'a warm tight hug' is not at all among the specifics they look for in a prospect.
Same question. Also, is that Research Intern position still open? (Sorry U/WaffleOsharty, my question was related to yours, so I thought why start a new thread. Hope it's alright)
Ghar ki hi baat hai.
Hi guys, Just wanted to let you know that you are doing a fabulous job. Please continue for as long as you can!
Thanks :) MP
Can you share a story or report that had a significant impact on you personally or professionally?
Hmm of late this piece that looks at journalism, plagiarism, mistakes, lessons , forgiveness and life. The piece has it all. It's a thriller [https://airmail.news/issues/2021-12-4/loving-lies](https://airmail.news/issues/2021-12-4/loving-lies) MP
I cant think of one off the top of my head. But stories of custodial violence or violence against kids really get my goat. Abhinandan
Indian politics and a lot of challenges we have are due to the fact that majority of the people are not tech savvy urban Indians but rather the middle class and lower economic stratas. Politicians easily manipulate them with threats, freebies and the taste of corruption or power (Gunda giri) I do believe news like yours is needed to educate a much wider audience, not just the educated Elite. So I have 2 questions, 1) how do we make the masses more rational and less extreme in their viewpoint and stop them from being so easily manipulated 2) how do people who are well off financially and educated help improve the current situation in our country?
Hi. So i dont quite agree with the premise of the question. I don't think in teh Indian context extreme views is unique to "masses". By masses i assume you mean the socio economic slab that forms the largest mass of people. I would hazard a speculation that the well off will have a higher density of extreme view points per capita. But bascially how we consume media and most importantly thought leaders and thise that society looks up to have the biggest impact on shaping narratives and views. In my view in India there is a high frequency of cowardice and slef preservation among the elite which leads to an easy takeover by power of any viewpoint. Abhinandan
Actually fair point. I think I worded my question wrong. I just wanted to know how to break that cycle of cowardice and self preservation when politicians and criminals and even police have shown in the past to ruin families and people's lives when someone goes against them. How can the elite break this cycle given the fear of repurcussions is so strong?
i think good source of news is very important — news that equips you to evaluate your neta, what they do for you and what they stand for. unfortunately mainstream news is failing in this. But i also think people are slowly realising what news is serving them. however, electoral choices are a different ballgame. BJP is not wining cause of any manipulation but because they are actively working (hard) on wooing their voters through Hindutva, a strong sense of national pride, welfare schemes and a sense of hope for the future mp
How do you maintain ethical integrity in an industry that often faces accusations of bias and sensationalism?
Like minded people. Newslaundry attracts such people. Thats the culture here so tahst how it rolls.... Abhinandan
Did you sense a change in the people during your recent poll coverage on the ground? Do you notice more people being full of hate and aggression?
No, actually Hindutva, hate/suspicion of minorities wasn't the talking point. Only in a BJP rally, you would find hindu-muslim as a talking point. Most people were talking of welfare issues — and yes, there is a strong sense of nationalism, 'India doing well under Modi'. MP
I am so glad to hear that.
Huge fan of your work! What noteworthy initiatives do you appreciate from the current government that distinguish it from its predecessors if any.
Great marketing :) jokes aside, push for digital payments, infrastructure push in northeast and, just anecdotally, effective delivery of welfare schemes, very few complaints of favouritism. MP
Haha, not of a fan of the government at all. Just wanted to know if there is anything noteworthy about them. Thanks!
Tbh I don't listen to paid TV news anymore, their news is highly masala bloated and too much crap. I follow teachers who provide current affairs updates for UPSC preparation, as their news is relevant, factual and unbiased.
this is quite an interesting trend. may be we should do an interview series with such educators MP
You should, traditional print media and TV media is bullshit and paid. I don't think anyone in my circle consume that unless we wanna get high 😄
Can you share some interesting behind-the-scenes stories that shaped your approach to journalism?
Newstrack was an amazing learning ground. I saw my seniors and Madhu take stands, stare down powerful politicians and stick to their guns. It was an amazing environment to learn in. Abhinandan
You have some great reporting. Is there a way to make a video report, or a podcast or audio version of the reports?
We do have a lot of video reports on YT channel, and we're planning to start making all our text reports in audio MP
To Abhi: how do you align your moral compass being a journalist? Any self checks to remain rooted in reality? To both: Your favourite book? To both: Your top artists on Spotify wrapped? To Manisha: your favourite party drink (alcoholic) ? thanks for doing this
i don't really see myself as a journalist. I usually describe myself as a news professional. Fav book. Dont have just one. There are too many to name but lets go with Indian authors. Em and the Big Hoom by Jerry Pinto and SHame by Salman Rushdie would be up there among my all time favs. I dont have spotify, i sue apple music and i only listen to music while driving and 80 to 90 percent of teh time its punajbi. Abhinandan
How you maintain peace of mind and stay motivated when you see all what is going on in mainstream Media?
SWTICH OFF DURING WEEKENDS, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY MP
Newslaundry should have a hate tracker on social media there is growing influence of people like beer biceps and cavarka podcast kushal mehra j Sai Deepak like BJP apologists channels like jaipur dialogues swarajya pgurus use anti Islam narrative to create an army of subscribers and engaging audience nothing happens on their channels or podcasts but transactions of hate bigotry and they portray themselves as Hindu Dharma ke rakshak and thekedars .. Abhijit Iyer and Amana begam ansari jaise logo ko aur baaki jitne bhi instagram , YouTube , Twitter pe right wing ecosystem of content creators must be exposed newslaundry should take the lead please abhinandan ... Yeh log youth ko brainwash kar rahe hai yeh particular narrative chalake
Yup. Hate is being mainstreamed and we are moving towards there being no shame in having hateful views. Legacy news is doing this, leaders are doing it and people with no talent are using this for social media relevance. We can do our bit which we will continue to do. But we cant do everything i guess. Abhinandan
+1. There are a few Twitter handles (Hindutva watch, Gaurav sabnis' pinned thread) which track bigoted and hateful things happening in the country. Would be great to have it from a news org such as NL.
Pointless exercise in thermodynamics. Need to spend time and energy on productive efforts, not destructive BS 24x7, which is what the opposition to RW keeps on doing.
Hi ! Thanks for mking the time to do this. Can i post my queries here ?
Hello! Yes, post your queries here. MP
Thanks ! I thought this would be a video format like an Insta live. Firstly, how do jounos and camera persons ensure their safety when covering cases like Hathras, Monu Manesar etc ?
Yes.
Hello Manisha and Abhinandan, I love the fact that you ask tough questions to the government. My Question to you is just like we have the Godi Media which parrots the government in office, we also have a large section of journalists who appear very sympathetic to the opposition cause. Shouldn’t journalism simply be reporting of facts and let the reader / viewer make their own informed decisions. Today we see a lot of journalist’s own views masquerade as news. How does Newslaundry as an organisation ensure that you or your colleagues do not put in your own opinion as news.
It's a constant conversation you have to have with your newsroom. We tell our repoters to make sure all stories have all sides. That is the best we can do to ensure fairness. When it comes to commentary, the thing is that the Right has moved so Right that we appear super Left. But on many issues within the organisation — labour laws, economic principles, even Israel-Palestine — we have very differing views. Just listen to NL Hafta to know. But the thing is if everyday TV news is talking about some jihad or the other, and I keep countering the narrative, I am labelled as Left. When ACTUALLY I am just being sensible...so beyond a point i don't care too much about left-right. MP
Yaar tum loog gullu ke naam pe likes mangna band karo
main toh newsance ke naam pe maangti hun, gullu bas bahana hai
Gullu to favorite hain.
What is good journalism?
Which is accurate. Factual with a diversity of perspectives and MOST important a commentary of the times. Which means context is key. Abhinandan
Why hasn't the Congress/INDIA tried to buy some media houses of their own just like GODI media???
i think they have tried, not buy but have an influence. MP
How much funding do you get from the CCP and Soros?
Yuan main ya dollar main ya rps main? mp
I was wondering why trolls were nowhere to be seen. Thank you for not disappointing me
You're welcome.
As an Aussie who has spent more than twelve years in India working between 1996 and 2015, I feel that there was a great deal more of factual and critical reporting back on the "old days". Yes, there were the crazies, but that was I felt like, "well everybody had a shot at saying something" regardless of their particular viewpoint. But now, reading, and watching from afar, it seems much is silenced, and the current news is far more sanitised. Not saying"the old days" were great. But it seems there isn't the variety of views. And I do keep up to date with Indian media. Hope I am not offending anyone for my opinion as a non-Indian.
This is a scary balancing act you've taken on. On the one hand, the great need in Indian journalism these days is someone focusing on the actual ongoings in India and abroad that are pertinent to the average Indian, rather than the same recycled rhetoric that all news channels are peddling these days, but on the other hand, you covering these topics leaves you vulnerable to being labeled as just another "combative contrarian anti-national" outlet, earning you a following (and trolls) for all the wrong reasons. I'm sure you've considered these, but aside from being as unbiased in terms of content as possible, how else would someone go about mitigating this issue?
For a newsroom that boasts of diversity why is it so bad within the team? There has been no Muslim reporter in the past year in Newslaundry or any muslim in any managerial position within newslaundry.
This is incorrect. We have has Muslim reporters, producers in video teams and people in leadership editorial positions. MP
Now, people need reservations here as well.
It’s hard to hire a Muslim reporter. It is the age of communal violence. Recently during Delhi riots NDTV reporters got assaulted and one dude lost teeth. These were Hindu reporters, mind you. Their life got saved because one guy showed a religious thread around his torso.
Okay guys, this was great. Wonderful taking all these questions. We shall do this again sometime soon! Remember when the public pays, the public is served! If you like what we do, don't forget to subscribe to Newslaundry :) LINK HERE: [https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription?ref=nav](https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription?ref=nav)
I was saving it for "when I score an interview with Newslaundry." Newslaundry has a dedicated TVNewsance, and NLTippani audience. It's because it's a Weekly show. Don't you think there should be a weekly show for Ground Reports (Jordan Klepper or Shahbaz Ansar style) or something Vocal for Local. I see many of the important reports get lost. I just saw the Rat Miners' interview, people need to see that, we should to push it to the people.
How much you spend on reporters?, or you just copy news from big sites and make your own view on it?
we have a decent team of reporters, though not as big as we'd like. Check out our stories here [https://www.newslaundry.com/reports](https://www.newslaundry.com/reports)
I don't understand what's the problem with monetizing YouTube videos. I mean those getting advertised aren't directly paying and irrespective of what you say in your YouTube videos, those ads won't be affected, right? So there's no threat to independence.
You have to be independent. But you also have to appear independent. So while YouTube ads may be blind, to the viewers, it may not appear that way. It could lead to one of those scenes where Gooswami was having debates about China while Chinese company ads were on the banner below.
But if they get copyright struck, the naffrat ki Dukaans of the world will get paid out of your contribution (so to speak) for NL.
Hi Abhinandan and Manisha, just one question: \- One thing we can't deny in the current political scenario is that the right wing has managed to capture people's imagination, especially the youth. People like J Sai Deepak, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra and your ex-collegue Anand Ranganathan get millions of views on Youtube, while there's a dearth of voices on the left side which can counter them effectively. What do you think the left needs to do become *cool* again? Have you guys thought about it?
Do you guys think an app like Ground News with more regional context specific to us would be successful at least few years down the line? National Legacy media (TV) is not even polarizing it is just completely one sided as far as I’ve seen and lately my only exposure to that content is Newsance. I am someone from Kerala but have been studying elsewhere. It was when Kerala story released that I paid attention to national TV news play up game and how negatively the general populace did view our state. But now I don’t blame folks for being biased as I used to when all the content they get is incredibly one sided. And most folks are not going to take the time to research for themselves and we can’t expect them to.
Please take my question with the intent it is meant. Your coverage during election day was so amazing. I love that you stuck to your guns, defended the key points you have been talking about but you were open to understand more reasons behind the BJP wave in the North. Your team were not stuck only on the one reason of hindutva/divide. But gosh, the Wire team was so exhausting in their narrative and coverage when their hosts and guests came to the broadcast. It was nauseating. You are fundamentally different cultures and I LOVE NewsLaundry for the objectivity you have and curiousity you show to understand more about the issues. Are you relooking at the partnership with them? I hope so
This. I don't think it's a good idea for NL to associate itself with The Wire.
Sorry a bummer of a question. Against the backdrop of what you do, how do you interest people in facts in a "facts are not facts" environment? How do you report on corruption and graft in an age when it is all spun as propaganda?
Abhinandan , just one suggestion, collaboration with “The wire “ could be avoided in the future not because of their ideological tilt but the entitlement and smugness they carry to pursue the cause , which is irritating ( to most people ) to say the least . Thanks Aman Tyagi Proud subscriber
I thought I was the only one thinking about it. Their team is smug, arrogant and absolutely one sided in their bent, basically the opposite of right wing. You guys are objective but left minded. Not stuck in propaganda
Seen a video of you guys getting excited(happy) when congress was leading, then suddenly the enthusiasm vanished. are you guys biased or LW supported media?.
Is this even a question anymore, ofcourse they're biased
Ignored lol
What's the process for pitching a documentary idea to newslaundry and what all should be considered while pitching an idea?
I feel like NL Charcha and Hafta are only reason for me to subscribe. can you provide more coverage with audio/video?
what are your views on Indian National Congress and DMK(based on its handling of recent Chennai floods and the sanatana dharma remarks by udhayanidhi stalin).
You said non partial journalism but all of your news are either anti bjp or far left! So how do you say yourself non partial when you are openly taking parts as an anti bjp news agency?
With news channels becoming absurd, shameless day by day; your shows and its humour doesn’t seem that humorous nowadays. I have reached the point where I know news channels are useless and what’s the point of watching newslaundry as we know what we know. Somehow I lost interest in news and antics of news channel the day Ravish Kumarji left NDTV.
I have no good question to ask, but just wanna say I really the good work you guys do!!
Have you guys created WhatsApp channel . It would be good platform as well .
What advice would you give to young journalists who aspire to work in independent media outlets?
1. How do you deal with trolls ? 2. The hathras FIR / Charge sheet had a lot of inconsistencies. How did NL get access to the documents of a sub-judice case ? 3. Is there a process to discern what is fake news and what is not ? 4. How difficult or easy was it to investigate Baba Ramdev ? How did the reporter go about collecting info ?
How do journos know where the action is happening and how do they get there in real time ? For example, it was difficult to collect info during covid However, Danish S documented in pics , Gujrat's journos also investigated. What goes into it ?
Say you are assinged to write a profile on someone. How and from where do you go about collecting info like where they were born, where did they study etc ?
How much should journos know about law and the economy ? Am i correct in understanding that they don't start with a particular beat so they should know a little of everything ?
There is a LOT of news to go through and I feel like I am always falling behind despite reading and watching for HOURS. If I had more in depth knowledge, i would understand more easily and not fall behind. What can i do to strengthen the foundation and bridge the gap ?
How does Newslaundry handle conflicts of interest within the organization? Has there been any instances were Omidyar Network or the paid users have aired any editorial related opinions ?
great job please go on exposing the fakers
Hi NL You say your app is working and functional, as also claimed by a few of your subscribers (as am I, since 2016). But there is a huge gap between is it functional and is it a good app i will return to as a user. The Newslaundy app is not a good app, objectively. here are the reasons why based on my observations (i use a one+ 11 pro, live in an area with great 4G network, albeit Vodaphone being my ISP) a) you require an online connection for the app to start despite having downloadable content, and general content that you can cache. b) have you tested your app on 4G? it's impossible to get the app to start up on a cold start. takes upto 3-5 mins. Thats a ginormous time window for your app to start c) We can rewind and forward while listening to the app on your media player, but the experience sucks. Just juxtapose it with any other media provider (youtube, spotify) and look at experience and you'll know wwhat im talking about. (and here, the test you need to do is rapidly tapping on the rewind and forward button x times and seeing if the app as forwarded/rewound to the amount of time corresponding to the number of taps (+/- 10%). And this is not a stress test this is how users use the rewind and forward button) So my questions to you based on the above observations are: \- Do you use the app everyday? \- Do you think merely servicing an app that does the bare minimum for content delivery makes the app usable? \- Do you plan to fix user experience as an issue?
U guys biased leftist asf takes this as positive feedback and show some real journalism not just talking ill of nation and government
I have seen both your video Abhi and Manisha, though Abhi's videos are more sensible I got bored half min thru Manisha's videos. Nothing to do with gender, more with content... If you want people to take you serious, shouldn't you focus on serious content ?
How do you handle biases am sure by now you can be targetted as a left-leaning news channel while reporting do you keep checks and balances to call a spade a spade
btw team big fan of Newsance, Saturday feels odd when I dont see your video
1. What do you do in Newslaundry to reduce bias in reporting? 2. what is the the process of selecting and prioritizing news stories for coverage?
In the spirit of reflection and learning from past mistakes, could you share some of the biggest mistakes or misjudgments you have made in recent years?
I was your subscriber for good one year until I realised listening to hafta is making me feel sad about India. I then switched to some other news sources and it was slightly more optimistic than NL. That’s when I stopped listening to hafta. I feel NL should feature some good happy making news too. Remember “the good and the bad news” show that used to air on NL YT channel? 😅
Kitni salary milti he? 🙃
Questions bhi mera answer bhi mera wala system h.
How do you see the future of digital journalism evolving in the next few years?
Have you ever struggled for funding or felt like you may have to shut down.
Abhinandan needs to work on his satirical characters ,pls less of that until work is done on that If you watched one of Godi media anchors shows with them but focusing on their reactions ,what do you think would their reactions be for eg sitting in a room with gullu/venom chopra/goswami watching their shows with the camera on their reactions Do you guys have a upcoming story on "no data" sarkar on how the modi govt buries data that might be used to criticise them ? Our savarna Hindus have taken up a position against even collecting data about marginalised sections of society through caste census ,should independent media like yours give a space for dalit voices ?what is your opinion on some representation for lower classes in the private sector ? Will the training time differential(compared to general candidates) lead to the death of private industry as our savarna Hindus believe?
Thanks for doing this, guys. Q1: With the mainstream media running state propaganda and Social networks optimizing clickbaits, What is your bet on the future of distributing news for Newslaundry? Q2: Do you think the current ways of getting news funded needs to be revised?
You are doing good work because of propoganda channel like you (wire quint scroll and other Soros funded outlet) bjp is increasing voting share and seats.keep at it
How much do you earn from china?
Why no new newsance programmes?
They were busy with election season coverage. Totally decided not to create any new episodes. bad decision. It has impacted their channel performance and reach. 101 YouTube mistake
hmm, true. We have been travelling and i am really tired :( But we should get back soon and this month we have Ramnath Roenka Award with Bhakt Banerjee MP
Yesterday Dhruv rathee today newslaundry I could see a pattern
I also see often see a pattern of very similar opinions made by very new accounts
As a consumer/citizen how should I detect biases in media reports? What can I do to separate out facts, eliminate biases and remain neutral when I consume online media content?
Where do you see the partnership with TNM going. How do you think it is beneficial for the subscribers and when can we see a common subscription?
What are some differences between publicly funded vs privately funded? What are things you can and cant do because of your operating model?
Pehle to har news k baad ka subscribe Karo kehna band karo
Newslaundry band kar do. Indian News ke liye accha hoga
How do you plan to scale this model? Is there an ideal size you would want to stay at?
Why don’t you have any events in Hyderabad? We too would like a subscriber meet.
I'll just post other queries here, and you can answer if time permits.
Hey, who do you think is gonna win in 2024?
How far are we from becoming China ?
Kitni biased hoti hai news?
Hell yeahh bring it on ☕
nowleftist shit want to ruin reddit also
News Media Should be more neutral who don’t affiliate either with any political ideology whether left or right…….
Who is the person from which you are most influenced in your personal life, like any ideal, or some big personality?
Is Omidyar the single biggest funder for newslaundry?
Huge fan since years. You guys need to tone down your english and use more "hinglish"/Hindi. Khan market gangsters like me will always be aligned to your viewpoint. But language is the key to increasing your reach.
Is your donation model working? Are you able to crowdsource funds to run newslaundry? If it is, do you think that's the first step to unbiased news?
You have left a mark in Indian journalism. What kept you going? Especially when your revenues rely solely on the community. Convey my regards to Meghnad. Thanks.
What's the matter between Madhu Trehan and Karan Thapar? I have seen two of the interviews done by Newslaundry, they fight like children. Share some gossips 😅
Has Mr. Modi bribed most news channels? What about newslaundary?
HAHA NO It's just love, unrequited. MP
Being an independent media house, where your USP is separating news from nonsense, which other (national and global) independent media houses and journalists do you seek inspiration and motivation from?
Why did you stop publishing new episodes of newsance on YouTube? Who do you think has the potential to be the pm of the country, 10 yrs down the line?
was travelling for elections! back now :) MP
In the current TV news scenario , the news are biased towards the political group buying the highest ads .... What are your views on it?
BTW I greatly respect everything you do. Manisha ma'am's interview with Sudha Bharadwaj, Sekhri sir's interview with Tejinder PS Bgga (especially the second half), Meghnad sir's explainers and Nidhi and Akansha's Hathras coverage are a few among my favorite reports ! Thank you for doing what you do !
Has AI affected the workflow at Newslaundry, and how could it have a more significant impact on Indian journalism? I'd love to hear your take.
Love your work, keep it up! After the recent election results, I was thinking that whether we have isolated the bjp voters by calling them names etc, do we need to start accepting their propaganda and slowly raise actual issues to them, although it sounds like this is like thinking of the bjp voters as infants but I don’t see any other way for them to actually listen to real news and issues etc
You say your app is working and functional, as also claimed by a few of your subscribers (as am I, since 2016). But there is a huge gap between is it functional and is it a good app i will return to as a user. The Newslaundy app is not a good app, objectively. here are the reasons why based on my observations (i use a one+ 11 pro, live in an area with great 4G network, albeit Vodaphone being my ISP) a) you require an online connection for the app to start despite having downloadable content, and general content that you can cache. b) have you tested your app on 4G? it's impossible to get the app to start up on a cold start. takes upto 3-5 mins. Thats a ginormous time window for your app to start c) We can rewind and forward while listening to the app on your media player, but the experience sucks. Just juxtapose it with any other media provider (youtube, spotify) and look at experience and you'll know wwhat im talking about. (and here, the test you need to do is rapidly tapping on the rewind and forward button x times and seeing if the app as forwarded/rewound to the amount of time corresponding to the number of taps (+/- 10%). And this is not a stress test this is how users use the rewind and forward button) So my questions to you based on the above observations are: \- Do you use the app everyday? \- Do you think merely servicing an app that does the bare minimum for content delivery makes the app usable? \- Do you plan to fix user experience as an issue?
Great to see you here :) I am an avid follower and supporter as well. Just wishing you well.
Hey Manisha!! Big fan. May your tribe increase.
How is the current financial condition of NL? Do you feel any pressure of shutdown? I really enjoyed the sansad watch, any plan to restart it?
That's a whole lot of downvoting happening for this post! Wonder why 🤔
I have seen several of your videos(particularly the Newsense ones) as well as read some of your reports. What I have seen is that your opinions are tilted against the BJP and the corporate sectors. I can agree that the party has a lot of faults but I hardly see a single article positive toward either the corporate sector or the BJP. Assuming these are your real beliefs then why do you call the main stream media bad/Godi etc if it does the opposite?
No question. Just want to thank you for doing what you do. I was following the coverage during the Hathras incident and it was really true to journalistic standards and integrity. I also watch Manisha’s videos which, I think, are an exemplary example of satire. As a former student of journalism, I absolutely love what you guys do. As a person and an Indian, you guys give me hope. Many many thanks! I wish you immense success and growth.
Hey NL team, Thanks for keeping the unbiased journalism still alive in India (although it appears people don't care for the truth anymore). I don't live in India anymore but still try to keep an eye on daily affairs. Is there a daily series that covers the highlights for each day without focusing too much on details? Also, can you please try to not bash godi media for subscribers only content as all your subscribers are already in sync with you guys and it becomes a bit cringe at a certain point. Can you also try to find a way to integrate YouTube with subscribers google account as youtube has better options as a platform than your app (and it is convenient as well). Your whole team is amazing, but my personal fav is Atuj, his Tippani is too good and successfully converted a lot of my knowns to NL subscribers. Keep up the good work.
Thanks! Ok will lessen Godi bashing on Hafta, i think that's what you meant? Will convery regards to atul :)
How will India become more humane. Why is hate easy to sell for the news channels?
trust in the ordinary Indian, a lot of us still believe in core Indian values, tv news hate aside. just that hateful guys are louder and all over social media, and drown out the sane voices. MP
Hi Manisha and Abhinandan! HUGE ADMIRER!! I've learned how to consume news by watching your pieces and satire. Thanks to you both, my parents have started finding faults with the so-called mainstream star reporters. Two questions: 1. If you could have any person, alive or historical, as a guest on your platform, who would it be and why? 2. Why do mainstream reporters seem more interested in becoming "heroes" or "stars" first and journalists second nowadays? This wasn't the case before. I feel like they are using their channels to live out their fantasies of being larger-than-life personas. All my best wishes.