Nikhil Taneja

Dark Side of Social Media! Writing about this disturbing trend on social media yesterday, where individuals, including parents, are risking themselves and even their kids for the sake of viral content, is highly shocking to me! My question here is: Has the pursuit of fame and validation become so essential? Why is there such a lack of accountability and consequences? #shockingvideo #socialmediamadness #disturbingevent

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OTT Self Regulation is not Correct : Bring *OTT Regulation* and *OTT Censorship in india @ The issue is always how bad is bad...if you allow all this Profanity and Half to Almost Full Nudity, what will stop them from going from this to Horrible things...all in the Name of Creativity...Yes OTT has its Advantage, Huge Content Library which can be Accessed Anytime on a Device of Your choice. But OTT has taken off big time bcoz of Nudity and Profanities Allowed to run Sans any control

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As a communicator, I'm deeply troubled by the state of press freedom in India. The stark reality, reflected in Reporters Without Borders' abysmal ranking, clashes with the promise enshrined in the Constitution's Article 19(1)(a). This decline is particularly concerning for the world's largest democracy, where a vibrant media landscape is the lifeblood of progress. Imagine a nation where citizens are empowered with information, where corruption is exposed, and where social justice finds a voice. This, in essence, is the power of a free press. It fosters transparency, a cornerstone of development communication. When citizens have access to unfiltered information, they can participate meaningfully in shaping their communities and holding authorities accountable. Investigative journalism, often the target of government restrictions, plays a vital role in uncovering wrongdoing and ensuring that development initiatives reach those who need them most. However, the reality in India paints a grim picture. Journalists, particularly those venturing into sensitive areas, face a constant barrage of threats. Laws like sedition and defamation hang like Damocles' swords, ready to silence critical voices. The specter of violence and intimidation creates a climate of fear, leading to self-censorship – a journalist's worst enemy. This stifles investigative reporting, hindering the flow of information crucial for development. The recent release of Julian Assange, though a victory for press freedom, serves as a stark reminder of the lengths governments can go to silence dissent. His case highlights the chilling effect such prosecutions can have on investigative journalism across the globe. India stands at a crossroads. Will it embrace the power of a free press and champion development for all? Or will it succumb to the allure of control and stifle the very voice that can illuminate the path forward?

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Hi friends, My story on how revenues from selling streaming rights will grow higher and fetch more revenues to producers than theatrical revenues in the next four years. Rajesh N Naidu Revenues from the sale of digital or streaming rights of films are likely to show higher growth and fetch more revenue to film producers than from theatres in the next four years, according to a recent Media Partners Asia report. Revenues from selling streaming rights of films are likely to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.2% to $1.1 billion (about Rs 9,130 crore) by 2028 from $0.8 billion (about Rs 6,640 crore) in 2024, the report estimated. In comparison, revenues from theatres are likely to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.6% to US$ 0.6 billion (Rs 4,980 crore) in 2028 from US$ 0.5 billion (Rs 4,150 crore) in 2024, it said. “Premium video on demand revenues, both advertising and subscription, are outpacing traditional box office growth,” said Mihir Shah, vice president, Media Partners Asia. “As the market expands, streaming majors will continue to invest heavily in local original content, particularly movies. In recent years, to deepen their market presence, established players have also focused on acquiring rights to successful regional movies, given the longer timelines involved in commissioning web series.” At present, there are 59 streaming platforms in India. Analysts say that increasing competition among streamers to grab more and more content in creating bigger and more easily accessible libraries for subscribers will drive investments in acquiring films. According to Media Partners Asia, in the next five years, India’s online video industry has a potential to attract investments close to $17 billion. Between 2018 and 2023, investments in local entertainment including scripted, unscripted and sports programming increased to $5.8 billion from $3.3 billion, said the report. Film trade analyst Komal Nahta said, “The growth in revenues from the sale of digital rights may be higher than the growth in revenues from theatrical in the coming years. This is a strong possibility. The habit or ritual of going to theatres every weekend is no longer the norm. A large section of the audience comes to theatres only when spectacular films like Kalki 2898 AD, Baahubali or RRR come to theatres.” It is estimated that there are more than 200 unreleased Hindi films that producers are finding it difficult to release in theatres. The producers are said to be negotiating deals to get these films released directly on streaming platforms. Thank you...Mihir Shah

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The media in India is facing a severe crisis, with increasing political influence and corporate control eroding trust through biased reporting. This is undermining democracy and fuelling division by spreading misinformation. The path to restoring credibility lies in promoting independent journalism, reinforcing ethical standards, and ensuring accountability across the media landscape.

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The case of Twitter ("x") show how dangerous and misleading a social network can become. From being a platform that had the promise of being a way to cover a communication gap that could balance a little bit the scales in regards to several groups (such as consumers, environmentalists, artists, independent journalism, small scale business, non profits, etc), to a platform that embraces radicalization and the interest of the 1%.

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Food for thought! One of the biggest incongruities in Indian journalism is the habit of describing a 'general' category person or groups as 'upper caste', in and out of context. Let's not talk about how the western media portrays our caste system. Now, there is no category called 'upper caste' in our quota system. We have SCs, STs, OBCs, etc and since 2019 (at the Centre) General EWS (economically weaker sections from the general category). In the case of SCs and STs and OBCs, most media organisations describe them more or less the way they are officially classified. They are also referred to as Dalits or backward castes, respectively. Editors should wake up to reality and refer to the so-called upper castes as the 'general' category, especially in election-related stories that talk about vote banks and in write-ups on quotas. Why do we have a knee-jerk impulse for substituting 'general' with 'upper-caste'? This journalistic preoccupation is reaching absurd proportions. It extends beyond Hinduism and to Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and so on. Some Christians call themselves 'upper-caste' Christians just because they belong to the general category! And media organisations also oblige by terming them 'upper-caste Syrian Christians'. Can't we stop this practice unless it is absolutely necessary to tell the reader about the caste / religious background of a person or a group? This dehumanises the underprivileged and endows unearned privilege on the others. It is politically correct to use terms like 'OBC voter' or 'SC candidate'. For all the others, terms like 'general candidate' or a 'general-category Christian leader' should be used (if it is a must for you to identify them by their so-called social status). Interestingly, EWSs among the upper castes are classified as EWS general. Which means ‘general’ is sort of a synonym for the formerly privileged classes while the ‘creamy layer’ (who do not get quota benefits among OBCs is called ‘OBC creamy layer’) concept applies exclusively to OBCs. They are technically in the general list but are still identified as ‘OBC creamy layer’. And let's not forget, the expression "upper caste" is just notional!

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Has sale of rights--streaming (OTT), satellite (television), and music--become one of the biggest motivating factors behind making Hindi films today? Has the domination of regional films on India's box office collections become total and uncontested? Hi friends, I explore these factors in my article. I have attached the complete article in a screenshot form. Here is the link to my article : https://lnkd.in/dgwDx2Wa

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I prompted ChatGPT to answer - "Why Vishvas News for Media Literacy" and couldn't agree more with the answer: 1. Trusted Fact-Checking Leader: Vishvas News is one of India's leading fact-checking organisations, known for its rigorous research and verification process. This makes it a reliable source for educating the public on misinformation and digital literacy. 2. AI-Driven Innovation: Vishvas News is at the forefront of using AI tools to detect and debunk misinformation, equipping users with cutting-edge techniques to combat disinformation in the digital age. 3. Holistic Approach to Media Literacy: Through workshops, online content, and explainer videos, Vishvas News addresses not only misinformation but also the underlying mechanisms of how it spreads, empowering users with practical knowledge. 4. Community Engagement: Vishvas News actively involves the audience, offering tools and resources to verify information themselves. This participatory approach strengthens media literacy at a grassroots level. 5. Experienced Team: With experts and seasoned journalists leading the initiative, Vishvas News offers high-quality, informed content to help audiences understand and navigate the complex media landscape. 6. Multilingual Reach: Vishvas News caters to a diverse audience by providing media literacy content in multiple languages, making it accessible to different regions and linguistic groups across India. 7. Proven Track Record: Vishvas News has a history of success, as demonstrated by awards like WAN-IFRA, INMA and the AFAQS Media Brand, showing its impact and effectiveness in promoting media literacy. Kudos to Team www.vishvasnews.com ! OpenAI International News Media Association (INMA) #factchecking #vishvasnews #medialiteracy #ailiteracy #advocacy #policy #promptengineering

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The Migration Story is bringing out important video stories on the untold challenges of India's migrant workforce. If you haven't already, do subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/dimBbpCV

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'Take no side, tell all sides.' 👁️ With journalists spanning various states and providing coverage on the ground and behind-the-screens, Reuters produced stories uncovering insights and updates on the world's largest general election. CC: Sanjeev Miglani Krishna N. Das Krishn Kaushik Nikunj Ohri Manoj Kumar Aftab Ahmed Shivangi Acharya Shritama Bose Tanvi Mehta Shilpa Jamkhandikar Sudipto Ganguly #india #modi #nda #electionnews #election2024 #government #stockmarketnews

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TheWire.in on my documentary "India's Disinformation War" -- "Channel News Asia (CNA), a Singapore-based news network, released their documentary, Fact vs Fiction-India’s disinformation war, about the spread of misinformation in India on March 30. It reveals that false information is being produced to influence millions, with the BJP’s IT cell in a leading role. Fact-checking is hardly possible at this scale. This impacts voting, health, and polarization of communities, often by triggering physical violence. A global survey conducted in 2023 showed that misinformation and disinformation are the top threats in India, outranking infectious disease, illicit economic activity, and inequality. An interviewee describes the misinformation spread on social media as a “drip by drip poison” in the brain. It also covers several interventions which seek to counter the spread of misinformation in India." https://lnkd.in/eKenizWG

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Last week, I wrote about the systemic struggles that film, TV, and web-series writers face in India. A quick recap: Writers are constantly fighting for better pay, fairer contracts, and even the correct credits. They sign away any copyright claims to their work in exchange for a fee, contradicting international norms. In part 2 this week, I speak to the Screenwriters' Association (SWA) on their long-term ambition to make things fairer for their members. The big, hairy goal: to set up a copyright society that will track, calculate, and pay out royalties to all writers for their work. If successful, this will be the second such attempt after the IPRS began paying royalties to musicians after the 2012 amendment to the Copyright Act. Will it be successful though? There are challenges. Read, only in this week's edition of The Impression. *** Want to read more such stories? Subscribe to The Impression now - it's free ✨ Get your weekly media primer in your ✉ every Wednesday, 3pm. Head to the comments section for a sign-up link!

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While it is important to fix political accountability on the governance crisis in events like the #DelhiAirportRoofCollapse I find it shallow when journalists reduce it to slanging matches between superficial party spokespersons. Stupid #journalism is part of the problem. Media must dig deep for answers 1. What are the best practices in airport maintenance worldwide in safety audits? Where does DIAL stand? 2. What are GMR & AAI supposed to do? 3. What are the construction/ maintenance warranty periods? 4. Whodunnit? TV #journalism , apart from the #Godimedia problem of simply being lapdogs of the ruling party has been reduced to "Aap isko kaise dekhte hain" levels (Translation: I don't friggin know what to ask). Time to tell them: Get up, move your neurons!

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What steps can one take to become an anchor, producer, reporter, or journalist for live news TV channels in India? I believe the term journalist encompasses the roles of Anchor, Producer, and Reporter. To begin with, if you aspire to become a journalist, you must have a strong foundation in general knowledge. This includes being aware of current affairs, basic laws related to police stations, hospitals, local political parties, leaders, workers, and the local administration. In addition, you should stay informed about events happening at the national, state, and local levels. If you possess good writing skills, it’s essential to learn how to write news pieces, as news writing is distinct from other types of writing. Anchor: An Anchor presents the news to the audience. To excel in this role, you need to have up-to-date knowledge of news and current affairs, along with a strong understanding of key figures in society and government. A presentable personality, clear voice, and command of diction are crucial. Practicing text reading with accurate pronunciation is a must, and this can be developed through regular, focused practice. Producer: In addition to the fundamental skills required for journalism, a Producer in TV media should have a positive attitude, the ability to make quick decisions, and a basic understanding of studio equipment such as cameras, lighting, and teleprompters (TP). A producer must be capable of quickly researching the program's subject and participants. Reporter: The Reporter plays a crucial role in delivering accurate and reliable news. A reporter needs to be outgoing, with the ability to build contacts across various sectors. They must be able to verify and deliver authentic reports promptly to the channel. Flexibility is key, as they will need to connect with people from all walks of life while gathering news.

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It isn’t easy to ‘sell’ a story pitch on floods in North Bihar. Why? Because most (English) media houses feel there’s nothing ‘new’ in the suffering of millions of people who face floods annually and have been doing so for generations. Can we ever imagine the plight and pain of marginalised and vulnerable communities who lose their homes almost every year and rebuild it, just to lose it again in the next wave of floods? Not just the house, they also lose stored foodgrains and standing crops. Further, they also ‘lose’ their entire village as the Himalayan rivers cause heavy land erosion and the entire village is ‘lost’ and people move around finding a safe piece of land as if they were in a game of musical chairs. The entire region remains in a state of flux! Internal displacement aside, young male members of these marginalised communities outmigrate for 6-8 months in a year to earn a living. They send remittances home, which are used to rebuild home and restart lives, only to be disrupted and displaced again. The vicious cycle continues… Engineering solutions like embankments and climate change linked erratic rainfall are accentuating their misery. I am grateful to The Migration Story for accepting my ground report on the recent massive floods in North Bihar. READ full report: https://lnkd.in/dSwN_x7U #bihar #northbihar #floods #migration #displacement #climatechange #livelihoods #poverty

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