Terror coverage row leaves bloggers livid

TV channel forces blogger to remove a post criticising its Mumbai attack coverage, sparking a fierce debate about the freedom of expression

Bloggers are angry a TV channel has forced one of them to retract his post criticising its coverage of the Mumbai terror attack.

Chyetanya Kunte, in his post titled 'Shoddy journalism', had come down on Barkha Dutt of NDTV for "breaking every rule of ethical journalism in reporting the Mumbai mayhem."

He had also accused her of "giving away locations in her broadcasts, thus causing Indian casualties" during the Kargil war.

NDTV soon issued a legal notice for defamation, forcing him to tender an 'unconditional apology' and remove the post.

'Read at your risk'
The law suit has angered bloggers who are rallying behind Kunte andu00a0 condemning the 'arrogance' of the channel. Though Kunte has deleted the post, other bloggers are reproducing it.

One blogger has added this note: "The blogger himself has retracted the post and he is not responsible for my reproduction here. Read at your risk. Barkha might sue you!"

Another blogger said the incident exposed the "malevolent side" of the channel which was unable to handle "uncomfortable questions from its very own audience".

"It looks more odd when the same NDTV adopts the role of conscience-keeper and becomes instrumental in arousing public anger against the government and politicians," he said.

Small fry
"I cannot believe that a senior journalist like Barkha Dutt had to pick on a small fry like Kunte!u00a0 I think the media coverage of the 26/11 attack was shoddy and appalling... Grow up guys... learn from your mistakes and move on. Don't stop the reality check," says a comment in The Hoot.

This blogger says threatening a blogger with legal action and forcing him to put up an apology is the "worst PR tactic possible."u00a0

u00a0"So, someone calls you an idiot and you go ahead and serve them a legal notice even though you routinely insult people and hide behind the facade of being in the media," says blogger Paul Bradshaw.

However, not everyone likes that tone. One is upset bloggers are using harsh language against Barkha.

Cyber law expert Naavi said bloggers need to discuss whether the post amounted to 'defamation and "there were reasonable grounds for Barkha to take offence." He also wonders why the media are shying away from covering the Barkha vs bloggers fight.