Thanks to Filter Coffee, I came across Mediaah! by journalist Pradyuman Maheshwari. It’s a blog on Indian media and media professionals. Following the links I ended up reading an article (Indian news sites cater to ex-pats) on Online Journalism Review by Mark Glaser, which promptly linked me to a whose of Media-Related website.

Anyway to make the long story longer, it was an interesting way to waste my time but one question which none of these self obsessive site ask: where is the fucking journalism? The scandal rich country that is India has almost no exposes and our friend at Mediaah! is busy writing about most stylish writer ad nausem, about a party (down to details of drinks served) to celebrate the launch of the second PR magazine. Where were the questions like does the industry need two magazines? How big is the PR market anyway?

But not to nit-pick on just one blog, but across the board it is the same malaise. Hey Mr. Glaser, just wondering why the hell did you not ask the question about why the sales of newspapers like India Abroad falling? Why the Indian news sites are clueless about the changing profiles of the ex-pats.

Believe me ever since the satellite television came into town, the standards at most newspapers have fallen. No scoops, no breaking news. Once in a while when someone like Tehalka comes along, the whole world tries to shut them down.

Indian media, I must say, refuse to ask the tough questions, and instead live in a cocoon which does no service to the readers and the media at large. Take it from one expat, who is in the news business, I would prefer the colonial BBC over anything ToI or Hindustan Times has to offer.