My article Defamation verdict bites Times Now has been published by The Hoot.org, a media monitor portal run by The Media Foundation whose office bearers/ members are well known journalists like B G Verghese, Sevanti Ninan, Paronjay Guha Thakurta, Vinod Mehta, H K Dua, Neerja Choudhury,etc.
Would appreciate if you could go through the same and give your comments below the story.
Would appreciate if you could go through the same and give your comments below the story.
vow that was a very informative article Sir. Had some queries though...left it as comment on your article at Hoot.org
ReplyDeleteCartoons and caricatures will not attract defamation. If you express an opinion in good faith about the conduct of say a Minister with reference to something he does as a Minister, then it will not attract defamation. However if you express adverse opinion against him as a person in general, it will attract. Hope this clarifies your question. Thanks for the views.
ReplyDeleteGoing there to Have a read.
ReplyDeleteoh ok.. sure its clear now :) :) thank u
ReplyDeleteWonderful and topical article Hari and your clarification in one of the answers is very helpful too...thanks. And it is great that the mainstream media has taken note of it, a real triumph. Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteA nicely compiled article as always. In fact recently, had a discussion about media and defamation in a class (I am studying journalism).
ReplyDeleteSir, keep writing.
And yeah, if in Chennai these days, are u attending the Indiblogger meet this sunday in Hyatt?? Will love to meet you thr.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant article sir, Have been following the Hoot for some time and it is a very good forum for bringing out critiques on the media.
ReplyDeleteI think this defamation angle is representative of the chaos that exists in the legal system. Again I am not a legal expert from sometimes it is media that is to blame and other times it is the interpretation of the law which affects the media.
It's strange. A person who runs from pillar to post against an errant company for 10 years gets a mere Rs. 5,000 as compensation. On the other hand, the Judge managed to demand Rs. 100 crore for defamation. Just goes to show how legal experts know how to take advantage of loopholes in the law. No wonder our politicians are so well protected and don't even appear in court when a case is filed against them. Appalling legal condition; I guess that's why we're stuck in muck as a country.
ReplyDeleteInteresting views.
ReplyDeleteThe media should show more maturity and care while using images and pictures, and should refrain from pursuing false cases for sake of publicity.
The media needs self regulation but in the fight of TRPs they ignore the fact...If they become like BBC only serious viewers will watch it.It is the 24/7 nature which is causing them to slip from time to time.
ReplyDeleteNever knew defamation law is applicable to bloggers.
ReplyDeleteMy doubt is, isn't this a hindrance to our right to freedom of expression and press? How do we bundle them up together legally?