Let me tell you a fictional story...
There is this news company building which is standing on 7 pillars. All of these pillars are sponsored by different companies. Patanjuli, DenturyPly, Amool etc.
One day, the media house reports on a scam which upsets the government.
1/n
There is this news company building which is standing on 7 pillars. All of these pillars are sponsored by different companies. Patanjuli, DenturyPly, Amool etc.
One day, the media house reports on a scam which upsets the government.
1/n
The gormint starts putting pressure on these companies to pull out their pillars. 5 pillars just disappear overnight.
Whattodo, they have a business to run and Gormint will help them run it or screw them over.
The building becomes shaky and starts tilting to the side.
2/n
Whattodo, they have a business to run and Gormint will help them run it or screw them over.
The building becomes shaky and starts tilting to the side.
2/n
Desperate building overs plead the Gormint to help them. Gormint is like, "fine, take two pillars from us. But mind you, these pillars can also disappear."
*Nudge nudge wink wink*
"So be good! Report good news, ok?"
Building owners nod vigorously, "We'll be good."
3/n
*Nudge nudge wink wink*
"So be good! Report good news, ok?"
Building owners nod vigorously, "We'll be good."
3/n
There are other smaller media houses. They also have pillars under them but there are thousands of them.
These pillars are not very thick, more like bamboo sticks which a 1000 brave citizens have paid for. Tiny amounts.
Now these media houses also report on the scam.
4/n
These pillars are not very thick, more like bamboo sticks which a 1000 brave citizens have paid for. Tiny amounts.
Now these media houses also report on the scam.
4/n
A few 50 of these people also get upset because they're supporters of the government.
"You're all biased", they say. "Our favourite leaders can do no wrong! We trust them! Screw you, we're taking our pillars away!"
Just like that 50 pillars gone overnight.
5/n
"You're all biased", they say. "Our favourite leaders can do no wrong! We trust them! Screw you, we're taking our pillars away!"
Just like that 50 pillars gone overnight.
5/n
But something strange happens. Really weird.
A 100 other people show up with their bamboo pillars and quietly start putting them under these smaller media buildings.
"We trust you," they say. "The big media building is not giving us information anymore. You give it pls."
6/n
A 100 other people show up with their bamboo pillars and quietly start putting them under these smaller media buildings.
"We trust you," they say. "The big media building is not giving us information anymore. You give it pls."
6/n
Now, there are more pillars than before, the building is more stable than before.
Building owners are like, we can add an entire INVESTIGATION WING room to our building. We can dig deeper, hire more reporters, do more reports!
AMAZE.
7/n
Building owners are like, we can add an entire INVESTIGATION WING room to our building. We can dig deeper, hire more reporters, do more reports!
AMAZE.
7/n
Moral of the Story: This #WorldPressfreedomDay, find your tiny media houses and put your bamboo sticks under them.
If you have the resources, try throwing in a concrete pillar or two as well...
Support independent Public funded Media.
8/8
If you have the resources, try throwing in a concrete pillar or two as well...
Support independent Public funded Media.
8/8
