So many lovely people crawling on my TL since yesterday. Saying all kinds of crap (some don't even like eh). But let me tell you all something, especially the women here. Around 3 years ago,I used to get very disturbed at organised trolling. I would lose sleep and worry endlessly
As a journalist, there are times when I knew the backlash would come, because that's part of the job. There are times that I would get upset despite knowing this. Though I would tell my colleagues to mute threads, I would still check them and get worried. I used to get nightmares
I wasn't sure how to deal with it. My first instinct was to stop voicing my opinions. I have strong (and maybe even unwanted) opinions about a lot of things, but I started self-censoring. I still do. But even that is not enough, regular news stories also can get you abused.
Points from #SterliteCase judgment. 'As per GoI-National Clean Air Programme, in a list of most polluted cities in the country, Thoothukudi is the only District which finds place in from TN. Sterlite argument that Thoothukudi is safer than Chennai is rejected as unsubstantiated.'
The judgment mentions an alumna refinery project in Odisha that Sterlite wanted to start and how they 'lied' that there was no forest nearby and it was found otherwise. 'We have referred to this decision to note the conduct of the
petitioner in proceeding without clearances'
The court says it was necessary to look at how Vedanta and Sterlite treated the atmosphere and what they did in other states, to understand their credibility. It goes into some detail about cases against the company in other states.
Since my timeline is filled with love, just making one thing clear. The names were changed as the rapist is biological father of child. We will not use first or last name. Why did the editor change it to random other names- in this case from another religion. That was not right-
And when it was pointed out in the morning, we changed it then itself. And at that time itself, I had admitted to the person who pointed it out to me and changed it. The change was made not bcos of social media trolling, that's just your wild imagination.
The change was made bcos we know when something is not right, not ethical. But if you go on and on and tell me that this is communal coverage, you can go take a hike. From day one, TNM has done serious and good reporting on sexual crimes against women and children.
A thread on covering sexual abuse/assault, covering #MeToo stories. Some of this is part of an internal document circulated for the employees of @thenewsminute created by @rgmlk@sowmya_rajen@anna_isaac and I. But it may help all of you. Do read.
Speak to the survivor, if they don't want to retell their experience, do not force them. Survivors become emotional. Talk to them about the consequences of doing a story. Sometimes, after you explain, they would not want a story published.
Discuss all angles of the story with the survivor. Choose words carefully. They may not want certain words to be used. They may not want certain angles included.
#KeralaFloodRelief thread. Pls bear with me. I know many of you have sent relief materials to Kerala. But please don't stop sending clothes, pulses, condiments, napkins, food etc. There are more than 7 lk people in relief camps across Kerala. Many don't have a house to go bk to.
As we go back to our offices tomorrow, these people will still be living in camps. In places in Alappuzha district the water won't recede for a few more days. In districts like Idukki and Wayanad, houses have been destroyed completely.
Many people will need to stay in these camps for a few more days. Which means the govt and other citizens need to ensure that all of them get good food and medication. And when they go back home, the process of rebuilding their lives will begin.