Reporters Without Orders Ep 151: The Arnab-Partho Chats

In this episode, the host Snigdha Sharma is joined by Newslaundry’s Ayush Tiwari to discuss the television ratings scam and the WhatsApp chats between Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and Partho Dasgupta, the former CEO of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).

Ayush begins by pointing out that the chats revealed something that everyone already suspected—that behind all the nationalistic clamour on Indian television news, there is nothing but a network of opportunists and middle men who line their pockets and buy influence.

Through the length of the discussion, Ayush cites his recent media reports and goes on to highlight how BARC, a government-mandated body, has been compromised at different levels. From Republic TV and Zee reaching millions of viewers illegally to a former minister in the information and broadcasting ministry allegedly “keeping aside” a multi-crore complaint against Republic TV, Ayush explains just how deep-rooted the corruption is.

The duo also discuss the most shocking and the funniest bits of the WhatsApp chats.

All this and a lot more as they talk about what made news this week, what didn’t, and what shouldn’t have.

Tune in!

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