Newslaundry Podcast

Sachin Kalbag, former editor of Mid Day and currently working on launching The Hindus’s Mumbai edition, joins us for this episode of NL Hafta. Kalbag tells us his plans to customise the newspaper to cater to Mubai’s voracious appetite for “entertainment” and yet stay true to The Hindu’s core values of good journalism. We also debate whether Svetlana Alexievich, the first person to be awarded the Nobel for literature, got the award for her body of work or for her politics. Then we discuss why politicians would never say anything that would antagonize their core support base. Also: the never-ending Delhi versus Mumbai debate, spokespersons going against their party positions and more. Links: Rajyasree Sen’s column in The Economic Times: http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-commentary/je-suis-beefeater-why-public-declaration-of-beef-love-is-also-deeply-polarising/ Mayank Jain’s account of being detained by Delhi Police: http://scroll.in/article/759920/law-wont-protect-sinners-like-you-scroll-in-reporter

Read the full story here: http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/10/05/aarushi-was-rich-peoples-daughter-thats-why-her-death-received-more-attention-hemrajs-wife-khumkala/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Development writer and international negotiations watcher Biraj Swain discusses with Samir Saran of Observer Research Foundation, Bidisha Pillai of SAVE the Children India, Amitabh Behar of National Foundation of India and Mukul Sanwal, career bureaucrat and India's chief climate negotiator at 1992 Rio the recently concluded United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Summit which were gavelled in New York in the last week of September. They discuss the goals themselves and what they hold for us and our future and our children’s future. The panelists pick their favourite ones. They discuss India’s pitch and participation, and if the over-presence of private sector, is that making the global public good, the UN, a compromised entity. The close by discussing the road ahead for SDGs in India, for Indians. They also listen in from one of India's youth delegate at the UN, Anoyara Khatun, on her aspirations and expectations from India and world leaders.Produced by Kartik NijhawanThe readings:Sustainable Developmen

This week on NL Hafta we discuss the Dadri incident in UP where a man was beaten to death following rumours of him consuming beef. We discuss whether such crimes have become more brazen under the current government. Then we talk about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America, his meeting with CEOs and his Facebook town hall. Then the team moves on to discuss Internet.org. Is it really as bad an idea as it is made out to be? Finally, on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, we discuss the man and his ideals, and dedicate a special song to him.Produced by Kartik NijhawanListen to NL Hafta on iTunes here: itunes.apple.com/in/podcast/newslaundry-podcast/id582585399?mt=2 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s not easy to make a film on a case that has been scrutinised to shreds. The writer and director pull it off. Read the full story here: http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/09/29/murder-most-foul-talvar-stays-close-to-real-life-and-is-gripping-from-start-to-finish/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read the full story here: http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/09/28/encounter-insurgency-how-the-army-killed-innocents-in-the-northeast/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read the full story here: http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/09/28/encounter-insurgency-how-the-army-killed-innocents-in-the-northeast/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Anand Walunjkar, co-writer of Clothesline, joins us for this week’s NL Hafta. We start with the many prime-time debates over the week on Santhan Sanstha and the Prime Minister’s grievance against “seculars” that often finds expression on foreign shores. Also, has Arvind Kejriwal been harsh enough on “fugitive” Somnath Bharti? Then, we discuss whether Indian playing “big brother” vis-à-vis Nepal may lead to a diplomatic disaster and if the government backtracking on the Draft Encryption policy by passing on the buck to bureaucrats was a good idea. Finally, will the Netaji mystery be ever cracked? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Development writer and international negotiations watcher Biraj Swain discusses with Prof Sachin Chaturvedi of Ministry of External Affairs RIS, Jonathan Glennie of Save the Children-UK, Vidya Venkat of The Hindu and Paul Divakar of Asia Dalit Rights Federation on the relevance of United Nations on its 70th anniversary, in a post-2008-meltdown world. They also discuss the ultra-conservative hunger and poverty definitions and the lack of ambition around 0.7% of GNI for development assistance and its impact. They take stock of the Millenium Development Goals, their impact on India and the world and conclude with their expectations from the new set of global goals i.e. the Sustainable Development Goals hold for us, our future and our shared destinies.Produced by Kartik Nijhawan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on NL Hafta: the fatwa against AR Rahman, and freedom of speech in India. Also, what makes a “good” Muslim? The team also discusses corporate drafting healthcare policies in India (conflict of interest, anyone?). Then we talk about television news obsessing over the government doing away with commemorative Indira and Rajiv Gandhi stamps. There’s more: slap-happy panelists, offensive dogs and parrots that cops want to arrest, raving reviews in Delhi Times, and frisking in airports. Finally, like the rest of the country – sorry, world – we wish our Prime Minister a very happy birthday.Produced by Kartik Nijhawan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on NL Hafta, we discuss the meat ban in Maharashtra and the Censor Board denying clearance to some recent movies. Then the team moves on to discuss the case in Gurgaon where two Nepali women were rescued from a Saudi diplomat’s house. We also discuss the Bombay High Court's order on the National Stock Exchange’s defamation suit against Moneylife magazine.Produced by Kartik Nijhawan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The second episode of our 11-part series on the four major international development summits of the year.Development writer and international negotiations-watcher Biraj Swain, Greenpeace campaigner Priya Pillai, legal professional Saurav Datta, founder member of Association of Democratic Reforms Jagdeep Chokker, and lawyer and head of policy and research, CIVICUS, Mandeep Tiwana, discuss the rights to peaceful assembly and association. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on NL Hafta, Ravish Kumar of NDTV India joins us as we discuss two of his recent blogs: What prompted him to call himself a Dalaal and why he doesn't want young journalists to idolise him. We also discuss the state of journalism schools in India and idealism in journalism. Then we discuss media's irresponsible reporting in the Sheena Bora murder case: Is the media going ahead of police? The team also discussed Samajwadi Party’s exit from the Janata Parivar and caste politics in Bihar. In the end we discuss Allahabad High Court's order to UP government to ensure national flag is hoisted at madrasas on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read the full article here - http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/08/28/how-news-died-on-the-sheenabora-murder-trail/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on NL Hafta, Krishn Kaushik from The Caravan joins us as we discuss Essar’s Rs 250 crore defamation suit against The Caravan magazine and Kaushik. We try understanding why other media houses completely blacked out the story. Then the team moves on to discuss the much-talked about Indrani Mukerjea case. The team also deliberates whether political parties should come under Right to Information Act. The 2011 Census data on religion was released early this week. We discuss how the media reacted to the numbers and why the data matters. Finally, we talk about the newest star activist in town – Hardik Patel. We even dedicate a song to him.Produced by Kartik Nijhawan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The first episode of our 11-part series on the four major international development summits of the year. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We present a new fortnightly podcast series in collaboration with Biraj Swain, supported by Save the Children India for this project. “Global Summits: Where are we going?”, is a podcast series that will cut through the jargon and break down development summits for you with experts and commentators from around the world. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on NL Hafta, we discuss the Comptroller and Auditor General’s audit of Delhi’s power distribution companies. We then move on to Cobrapost’s Operation Black Rain & how the English television media chose to ignore it. We also discuss PM Modi’s UAE trip & the speech he delivered to the Indian diaspora. The team also discusses Tehelka being served a legal notice for listing Bal Thackeray as a terrorist in its cover and the police crackdown on FTII students. We close with a brief discussion about Mulayam Singh Yadav’s comments on gangrape and Rahul Gandhi’s visionary sarkar. We also dedicate a song to Rahul Gandhi.Produced by Kartik Nijhawan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on NL Hafta, we discuss Rahul Gandhi and Sushma Swaraj’s speeches in Parliament. We also question the opposition’s intent behind the parliamentary disruptions. We then move on to the Mumbai hotel raids and the broader problem of moral policing in the country. Has it increased ever since the Modi government came into power? The team also discusses Radhe Ma and the godman/godwoman culture in India. Are the Indian masses really that gullible or is there something bigger at play here? We close with a brief discussion on the Alka lamba incident.Produced by Kartik Nijhawan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on NLHafta we discuss the #PornBan (and the subsequent unbanning). Then the team moves on to discuss disruption in Parliament and if it was right for Sumitra Mahajan to suspend 25 Congress members of Parliament? Then we talk about the media’s eagerness to dub the terrorist nabbed in Udhampur as junior Kasab. But was there even a senior Kasab? Also, what made Modi roll back the amendments to the land bill? Finally, we discuss why TV anchors are not bothered about the possible amendment to the Whistle Blowers Protection Act. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.