AUSTIN SZABO WRITES – The world’s largest democracy may finally be set to host the world’s most expensive elections. In the months leading to India’s April-May congressional election, the competing Congress and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party, or the People’s Party) will spend upwards of $5 billion on TV, print, radio, and…
Category: India
INDIA: Bogus Beijing Story Fogs Attention of Delhi’s Real Pollution Problem
AUSTIN SZABO WRITES – A misleading story about Beijing’s virtual sunrise earned more press than Friday’s report naming New Delhi the world’s most polluted big city. The Daily Mail’s inaccurate story claimed that China’s government digitally simulates the sunrise on television screens throughout Beijing since its pollution blocks natural sunlight. Major…
INDIA & PAKISTAN: Female Journalists Face Dangers in the Field and Workplace
AUSTIN SZABO WRITES – Though they’ve reported on floods, bombings, wars, and protests in some of the most dangerous places in the world, female journalists in Pakistan and India are still threatened and mistreated at home. Despite repeated calls for change from groups ranging from the United Nations to the Women’s…
INDIA: The Media’s Whitewashing of Beauty
Want to be happy with your life? Then according to Indian media, make sure to have fair skin. A legacy from India’s caste system, fair skin is still considered essential for success in business and love, and Indian media still spreads this message. Controversial products such as whitening creams are…
PAKISTAN: Action Movie Paints India as the Bad Guy
AUSTIN SZABO WRITES – With explosions and non-stop action, Pakistan’s first action blockbuster, Waar, is making waves. Indians are less excited: they are the bad guys. Reuters offered a summary of the movie: “Indian villains team up with Islamist militants to plot spectacular attacks across Pakistan. Pakistani security forces jump in…
INDIA: Elections Go Online, But Will It Matter?
AUSTIN SZABO WRITES – If you live in India, expect a “friend request” from your local representative. The upcoming 2014 election will see an explosion of social media campaigning, according to The Times of India. India’s Bharatiya Janata and Congress parties are scrambling to woo internet users. From local politicians getting in touch directly…
INDIA: Sexy Commercials Keep Women Vulnerable
AUSTIN SZABO WRITES – The hanging of four men convicted of rape and murder will do little to stem misogyny in India. The solution lies with the media and how it represents women. From 1990 to 2008, the number of reported rapes in India more than doubled, according to official…
PAKISTAN: At Prices This Low, Teens Can’t Afford Not to be Immoral
AUSTIN SZABO WRITES: You can’t trust your kids once the sun goes down. At least that’s what Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) officials say. The News reports that the Pakistani government has demanded wireless companies stop selling late-night cellphone packages to teenagers, claiming such deals will ultimately destroy the country’s culture. Their logic? Discount…
CHINA: Heritage of Destruction
LEXIE TUCKER WRITES – Many Chinese Buddhists are up in arms over the planned destruction of buildings in a well-known ancient temple in the city of Xi’an. Last month, these Buddhists urged an investigation into the matter and various media sources reported that several buildings in Xingjiao Temple were to…
INDIA: Cybercrime Response is Crucial to Cameron’s Agenda
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent three-day visit to Mumbai and New Delhi- the first visit from an English premier in 20 years — is ripping across Asian subcontinent. Accompanied by the largest entourage of British business officials ever to travel overseas with a prime minister, Cameron had a myriad…
INDIA: China’s Passport to Trouble
China is at it again! Existing territorial conflict between New Delhi and Beijing over Arunchal Pradesh is no concern of the past. The controversial issue has been revived as China recently took matters into its own hands, launching new e-passports in which it showed the regions of Arunachal Pradesh and…
INDIA: A Techno Solution forTouchy India/Pakistan?
The recent blowup of the Innocence of Islam and the detrimental effects that the provocative video (or is it a mere trailer?) is forcing many to question the power of technology. However, a new program in India may redeem hope that technology, the media, and entertainment can also be a…
SRI LANKA: New Nuclear Plant from India Has Neighbor Up in Arms
The Indian government says Sri Lankan opponents of its newest nuclear power plant have resorted to a campaign of propaganda and media misinformation to keep the facility from going live. All the same, the anti-nuke effort is making an impact: New Delhi said it will enter into a “broad dialogue”…
INDIA: Who Loves Ya, You Poor Journo???
During a recent protest in Assam, a northeastern state of India, journalists became the target of the protestors – and they are now up in arms about it. On August 29th the Daily News Analysis (DNA) India reported on a twelve-hour protest held the day before by the All Assam…
IN REVIEW – Shamini Flint’s INSPECTOR SINGH: A CURIOUS INDIAN CADAVER
Most of us have heard the story of the Runaway Bride, but probably not one told quite like this! Shamini Flint’s fifth installment of her bestselling book series, Inspector Singh Investigates: A Curious Indian Cadaver, goes far beyond the tale of a missing bride, chronicling the mind of a sweaty,…
INDIA: Cartoon Version of Free Speech?
How dangerous can a cartoon be? This seems to be the question many are asking themselves after Professor Ambikesh Mohapatra from the Jadavpur University was arrested for posting a political cartoon. The cartoon is a spoof in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Railway Minister Mukul Roy are featured talking about how…