Stop spreading misinformation and your verbal diarrhoea..
Background
TIME magazine reported that Modi's ascension to national power in 2014 led to the taming of India's media. His rise coincided with a reorganization of the editorial authority of some of India's most important news institutions, particularly national television networks. The previous generation of senior editors, who were viewed as more devoted to India's liberal outlook than the BJP's Hindu nationalist ideology, were moved out, and new channels and news leaders with devotion to the BJP and Modi were developed. Because of their large state and party advertising budgets, India's state and central governments hold considerable control over media companies.[1] In the 2019-20 fiscal year, the central government alone spent roughly ₹1.95 crore (equivalent to ₹2.3 crore or US$280,000 in 2023) on advertisements per day.[2] Access to power and business favours are additional incentives for the media to continue with the pro-BJP messages. This ensures that bad news never affects the government or goes public. With a few exceptions, the government has made sure that the media outlets that seek government approval for their reporting.[1]
Coinage
The term was coined and popularized by NDTV journalist Ravish Kumar, in reference to the sensationalist and biased Indian print and TV news media supporting the ruling NDA government. The term literally translates to "media sitting on the lap".[3] In one of his shows, Kumar used silent actors to mime "Godi media". This was accompanied by miming what the ruling party leaders wanted to listen to, using the Hindi film song "Bago Mein Bahar Hai".[4]
Usage and popularity
In 2018, on World Press Freedom Day, many journalists and social activists held a demonstration which protested, among other things, against the "godi media".[5] The term was also widely used at the time of the Citizenship Amendment Act protests, and the 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest, with the claim that the protest and the farmers were not being represented fairly.[6][7][8][9]
Detractors of Godi media allege that instead of practicing honest journalism, such media publishes fake news and inflammatory stories, which are often untrue, working in the interest of BJP government, corporate and elite sources for their own benefit.[10][11]
Such media has also routinely exaggerated the BJP government's achievements and either brushed aside over its failures or found ways to blame them on Modi's discontents: the opposition, activists, Muslims, liberals, protesters, leftists, non-governmental organisations, and other assorted "anti-nationals."[1]
Rajdeep Sardesai, one of India’s leading news anchors, said "A large section of the Indian media,”... “has become a lap dog, not a watchdog."[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Roy Chowdhury, Debasish (3 May 2021). "India's Media Is Partly to Blame for Its COVID Tragedy". TIME. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
- ^ Bose, Mrityunjay (2020-10-31). "Modi govt spent over Rs 700 crore on advertisements in 2019-20, reveals RTI reply". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Wire-Ara-FaceHeat-2020was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Chaturvedi, Swati (4 August 2019). "Magsaysay award winner Ravish Kumar's journalism is fearless, doesn't monetise hate by peddling a communal agenda". Gulf News. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
- ^ "World Press Freedom Day: “Remove Godi media, save democracy,” say journalists at a demonstration in Delhi ", National Herald
- ^ Nidhi Suresh (1 December 2020). "'Media has lost our trust': Why protesting farmers are angry with 'Godi media'". Newslaundry.
- ^ Farmers versus ‘Godi Media’ (TV Newsance Episode 112) (video) (in English and Hindi). Newslaundry. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ Priyadarshini, Anna (2 December 2020). "Farmers Are Angry with 'Godi Media' for Demonising Them. TV Channels Double Down". Newslaundry.
- ^ Zainab Sikander (21 December 2020). "BJP, media, MHA — slander on Muslims and Sikhs have a lot in common. Outcome will be too". The Print.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Wire-Philipose-Backstory-2020was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Goel, Vindu; Gettleman, Jeffrey (2 April 2020). "Under Modi, India's Press Is Not So Free Anymore". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
Further reading
- Gagan Deep Chauhan. Godi Media: गोदी मीडिया. सृजन Digital Collections. GGKEY:YCCSCZPHTHD.
- Ravish Kumar (10 August 2019). The Free Voice: On Democracy, Culture and the Nation (Revised and Updated ed.). Speaking Tiger Books. ISBN 978-93-89231-41-0.
- Pande, Manisha (26 January 2020). "Shaheen Bagh and the spiralling hostility against 'Godi Media'". Newslaundry.
- Roy Chowdhury, Debasish (3 May 2021). "India's Media Is Partly to Blame for Its COVID Tragedy". TIME.
External links
- Ravish Kumar (9 October 2020). 'Ye godi media ka kaal hai': Ravish Kumar at The Media Rumble (YouTube). Newslaundry. Retrieved 22 June 2021.