Reporters Without Orders

This week, host Sumedha Mittal is joined by The Caravan’s Sagar.Sagar talks about his report on Network18 shifting from public interest journalism to what he describes as appeasing the government. He explains how Network18 changed after Ambani took over and how journalists were asked to defend the prime minister. This led to the resignation, even firing, of several journalists, he explained. Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:38 - Network18 and Ambani00:49:18 - RecommendationsRecommendationsSagarThe In-depth History of Reservation System| Creamy Layer| Subcategorization Ft. SagarSumedhaUnreliable News How Reliance hollowed out Asia’s largest media conglomerateProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.

This week, host Tanishka Sodhi is joined by independent journalist Akanksha Kumar and the Caravan’s Amrita Singh.Akanksha reported on the alleged fake encounter of one Bhalchandra Yadav by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force. She delves into the workings of the UP STF, the state of law and order in UP, and a purportedly normalised trend of police encounters in the state.Amrita’s report was a deep dive on Nita Ambani, wife of billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani, her life, and her quest for the public eye. She talks about Nita’s involvement in Reliance-Jio World’s major operations and her PR team’s efforts in her positive branding.Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:07:37 - ‘Fake encounter’ by UP STF00:29:06 - Nita Ambani00:55:17 - RecommendationsRecommendationsAmritaJoylandAkankshaSeharTanishka‘Trying a different route’: The new path and ‘positivity’ of Shehla RashidProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.

This week, host Anmol Pritam is joined by Newslaundry’s Avdhesh Kumar.Avdhesh reported on the nexus of middlemen and Delhi police officials allegedly facilitating the plying of illegal vehicles in the capital. He explains the workings of the network and the organised crime happening in broad daylight. He also reported on how Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was stopped from going to Sambhal, where clashes over a mosque’s survey killed five locals. He gave a blow-by-blow account of the aftermath of the Sambhal violence.Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:02:38 - Rahul Gandhi detained on the way to Sambhal00:02:38 - Aftermath of Sambhal violence00:25:45 - Delhi police and the middlemen00:33:20 - RecommendationsRecommendationsAvdheshRajat Sharma & Sudhir Chaudhry Talk Sense on Sambhal! Is TV News Changing? TV Newsance 276AnmolSambhal हिंसा का पूरा सच: परत दर परत | Ground ReportProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.

This week, host Pratyush Deep is joined by Newslaundry’s Avdhesh Kumar and Sumedha Mittal.Avdhesh reported on the violence that erupted amid protests against the archaeological survey of Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal. He delved into how the clashes between police personnel and locals led to the death of six civilians.Sumedha’s report was on the odd dip in voter turnout in the recently concluded by-polls in UP’s Kundarki assembly seat. She found out that of the 435 booths in the constituency, 154 saw a dip in voter turnout amid allegations of voter suppression, especially in the Muslim-dominated areas.Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:20 - Sambhal violence00:06:22 - Odd dip in voter turnout00:25:43 - RecommendationsRecommendationsAvdheshMaqboolJaun EliaSumedhaALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHTPratyushBlinded by the Stars: A Gov't Rating Scheme is Helping Coal Miners Pat Their Own BackProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.

This week, host Basant Kumar is joined by Dainik Bhaskar’s Rajesh Sahu and independent Journalist Sneha Richhariya.Rajesh reported on the Jhansi hospital tragedy, in which a fire incident claimed the lives of 15 infants. He says that an overcrowded NICU, expired fire extinguishers, and negligence of the hospital administration led to the incident.Sneha has reported on the impact of migration in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. She shed light on how families of the migrants are impacted and the pace of migration leading to vacant villages.Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:28 - Jhansi hospital fire00:20:43 - Bundelkhand migration 00:33:20 - RecommendationsRecommendationsSnehaLIES OUR MOTHERS TOLD US: The Indian Woman’s BurdenAnurag Minus Verma PodcastBasantEk Jindagi Kafi NahiProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.

Host Sumedha Mittal is joined by Newslaundry’s Tanishka Sodhi and Shivnarayan Rajpurohit.Tanishka reported on the Ladki Bahin scheme, launched recently by the Maharashtra government for women in the poll-bound state. She explains whether this scheme, the Mahayuti’s biggest bet this election, holds currency for voters.  to multiple women and tries to make out that the newly minted scheme is Mahayuti’s biggest bet this election.Shivnarayan talks about his deep dive on Rahul Gandhi’s formula to win on YouTube and social media. He says Gandhi’s team uses strategies that are no different from those used by Narendra Modi. He also explains how Gandhi’s team is sidelining mainstream media, since they believe the media played a huge role in establishing Gandhi’s image as “Pappu”. Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:59 - Ladki Bahin scheme00:11:33 - Rahul Gandhi’s YouTube channel00:44:01 - RecommendationsRecommendationsTanishkaImbalance of power: Women at international climate negotiationsShivnarayanWho was behind the NCP split? Ajit Pawar's BIG REVEAL to Sreenivasan JainProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.

This week, host Shivnarayan Rajpurohit is joined by Newslaundry’s Anmol Pritam and Basant Kumar. Anmol reported on the increasing encroachment and concretisation of the Yamuna River floodplains, which has heavily contributed to the river’s degradation. He throws light on the consequence of arbitrary construction by the Delhi Development Authority. Basant’s report was on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visits, which often comprise activities focused on promoting the BJP. He delves into the details of his official visits from January to October and the lack of transparency about the PMO billing the BJP for these unofficial expenses. Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:22 - Yamuna river pollution 00:08:30 - Modi’s trips00:45:10 - RecommendationsRecommendationsAnmol Yamuna is choking in Delhi. Is floodplain encroachment to blame?BasantSharda Sinha’s Chhath songsProduced and edited by Hassan Bilal, recorded by Anil Kumar.

This week, host Anmol Pritam is joined by Scroll’s Ayush Tiwari.Ayush has reported on the increasing rift between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the BJP. He explains how the making of Yogi as a “tough and strong” leader has led to dissatisfaction among the cadre and created cracks within the party. He says the power has shifted from party workers and MLAs to police officials.Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:02:50 - Yogi’s Police Raj00:17:20 - Caste dynamics in BJP00:43:58 - RecommendationsRecommendationsAyushCardinal NumbersWhy the EBCs are the key to the 2024 electionGood Morning, VietnamAnmolLowering the Bar The RSS legal front’s increasing hold over the judicial systemProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.

This week, host Pratyush Deep is joined by Scroll’s Rokibuz Zaman and Newslaundry’s Drishti Choudhary.Rokibuz reported on the Supreme Court’s judgement upholding the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 – a provision added exclusively for Assam. He says that the judgement upholds 1971 as the year of entry, which contradicts the government’s 2014 cut-off under the CAA. Drishti’s report was on the Delhi administration’s efforts and failures in tackling air pollution. She explained the measures undertaken by the Delhi government and that despite spending crores of money and sanctioning extensive resources, the situation has worsened. Tune in.Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:02:38 - Citizenship laws in Assam00:25:45 - Delhi air quality crisis00:33:20 - RecommendationsRecommendationsDrishtiHippieRokibuzProvoked NarrativesPratyushModi Gov’t Produces Spurious Expert Opinion To Remove Health Warning on Fortified RiceProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.