Taking Twitter for granted – Hello Sukrabar

Are you a Twitter user? The micro-blogging platform in which you can’t type more than 140 characters (yes, it is character, not words).

In the recent time, Twitter has become very popular in the world. Some Nepali have also started using it. Encouraged by its popularity in Nepali users, Kantipur Daily has started publishing a section called "Sataka Twits". In the section one of the reporters copies twitter posts of his/her friends and publishes. When I saw the section last week, I felt a bit uneasy. The section this week is really awkward. One guy, in the published post is telling that he has borrowed his friend’s password to check-out the lady friends there (I thought his name deserves to be removed in the following cutting of the newspaper).

I have a couple of questions, for the publishers.

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Let's demand Saptahik to be categorized an 'adult' magazine

UPDATE: An online petition -To Name Nepali Weekly – Saptahik an Adult-Only Magazine- is started.

A disclaimer first: I don’t know anybody, in person, in Kantipur publication; they have never done any harm to me or anybody I know. Nobody has told to write this article and I have nothing personal to gain or loose by writing this article.

A Nepali weekly, published by once the biggest media house in Nepal, Saptahik, has claimed itself to be targeted to "EVERYBODY" and is publishing contents inappropriate for the children. I have raised this question more than a couple of times and have used every possible medium of communication to get reply from the concerned journalists in Kantipur publication. But, to my dismay, they have chosen to keep themselves in closed door.

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Movie Reviews – How do Nepali reviewers review movies?

Note: This article follows the previous article – Movie review – How is it done? in which Raunak has talked about how a good review is written. In this article, Raunak is analyzing some Nepali movie reviews.

At the time when Hindi movie Ravaan featuring Avisekh Bacchan and Aiswarya Rai was released (June 18, 2010), Nepali daily Kantipur published a review of the movie after a few days of the release. The review mentioned that the movie also featured Manisha Koirala and Govinda. The article appreciated their role even if they appeared briefly in the movie. I had watched the movie on June 19 (before the review was published) so I had to ask a friend for the DVD of the movie to confirm the error in the film review. There was no mention of Manisha in casting and she never appeared in the movie.

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Kantipur's stray sexual desire – strip dance and women's most sensitive parts

It has been more than a few times Kantipur publication has shown it’s immaturity in it’s role as a mainstream media. It has shown signs of becoming an old lion who can’t hunt but is too proud to accept the truth – it is no longer a media of choice.

Kantipur’s desperate attempts to attract readers is evident in some of the articles with extreme sexual subjects, not suitable for minor. For example, the Dec. 24 edition of Saptahik teaches our kids to ‘strip dance’ and tells that Americans spend more time in strip bars than in theaters or operas. There is another article in the same edition, telling the kids that the inside of thighs are the most erotic parts to touch and kiss.

Now, tell me: What will you do if your 10 year-old kid want to test if Saptahik was right?

I wouldn’t have been complaining if the magazine were ‘adult only’. But, the magazine clearly mentions that it is “for everybody” – that includes kids (See the photo below, showing the title of Saptahik).

They might argue they are publishing articles on “sex education”. But, where in earth teachers talk about strip dance in school?

Well, this is not the first time, the sex hungry bunch at Kantipur have published such articles. Last time articles on Maya Bazin and Smita Thapa looked like articles written by a pimp rather than a journalist. In an attempt to hear what they have to say, I wrote emails to editors and writers but, I never got any replies. This is a perfect example on how they treat their readers.

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Kantipur is enlightened – Miss Nepal, Sadichha got interviewed

Kantipur didn’t know when Miss Nepal 2010 was held (at least its loyal readers don’t). Last time, I questioned their loyalty to their readers and specifically asked for their explanation. I wrote emails to the kantipur officials, with the links to those posts about Miss Nepal and Kantipur. But, they played deaf (attached email screenshot), yet again! It was not the first time I didn’t get a reply from them. Last time, when I wrote about Smita Thapa and Maya Bazin, my emails didn’t get any reply.

A hat-trick of no replies is enough to prove that that the Kantipur officials are self-centered, short-sighted, and don’t know their responsibilities.

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Real worms, …again

The Real Juice, Real Embassy, Dabur Nepal, and Kantipur were center of attraction for for me, for some time. Now, it is Nayapatrika that came out with another version of the same story – extra materials in the juice. The same unanswered questions are being asked:

Why are our kids being fed such non-consumable items ? Why is the government silent on this issue ? (Even, India felt the heat and was talking)

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Kantipur, you owe me (us) an explanation

[Update: I had written the original post in a hurry so, I have changed some wordings. I hope Kantipur editors will come up with some valid arguments.]

Some people thought that my previous article, Journalism Ethics, Dabur and Miss Nepal, was biased. I want to make myself clear, by telling that, I still believe in the spirit of the article, Indian Embassy – Real Juice – Real motive, and Indian Media, I wrote on August 28. A few points:

1. Kantipur owes me an explanation. Why didn’t they cover the Miss Nepal event? I am still not convinced Kantipur did something ethical.
2. Not publishing major news based on one’s personal problem (or, organizational dispute) implies that the Indian Embassy was right in telling our journalists are unethical (even if, it is still baseless).
3. Am I baised ? Yes, a little bit. Previously, Kantipur writers simply ignored my enquiries through previous articles and emails (on Maya Bazin and Smita Thapa issues). The article was targeted to thick skinned, writers there.

My friend Aakar argued that he thinks Kantipur publication is doing what it should. Dipak Bhattarai and Aakar sent me the link to The Hindu article. It was a very detailed and in-depth analysis of the background of the current problem. I have summarized the articles below:

Excerpts from Nepali Times article.

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Can't Himani pierce her bellybutton ?

When Kantipur published the following photo of Himani, people everywhere were talking about the pierced bellybutton of the former princess.

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Do iPhone Apps reviews make sense in Nepal?

I was surprised when a Nepali newspapers published an iPhone apps review. It is not that they can’t do it. But, iPhone Apps doesn’t make sense to majority of the readers of the Nepali newspaper.

The reviewed App, costing $5 (it was marked $0.99, at the time of writing this article), can’t be purchased in Nepal as there is no International Credit Card facility in Nepal.

The V1.0 of the app was released on 26 July, 2009 and is rated 17+. That doesn’t qualify itself to be reviewed in a National newspaper in Nepal.

Many tech review sites had reviewed it long ago and told it to be “completely inaccurate”. The article in Nagariknews is fully biased towards the app and makes it feel like the app is the best prediction of your sexual drive.

It doesn’t make sense to review a year-old app. In a year’s time, there should have been more such applications released in iTunes which, the Nagariknews writer didn’t care to look for.

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Baby Thapa, Smita Thapa – competition in full swing

One of the ‘minority knowledgeable’ in Kantipur would be very happy to read an article of Baby Thapa who says she had “4-5 boyfriends and is having a sexual relation with a Nepali celebrity”.

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Smita Thapa, my daughter, and Kantipur media house

…Minority knowledgeables thought Smita as a very courageous, frank, fearless, and revolutionary woman…

If, I am sure I am right, I don’t care what others say about me. But, when I am in doubt, I start seeking palatable excuses to prove myself right! That is what Saptahik is doing by publishing the following article.

click here to go to the article in Kantipur website.
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Journalism Ethics, Maya Bazin, Smita Thapa, and Kantipur

UPDATE: One of the admins of the site hosting Maya’s video has replied to our question about the background of Maya Bazin. Here is what they have to say:

She’s a |**rn girl. That’s why she’s lying. Most girls don’t want to give away their real background so she made something up. ….

I hope the editors in Saptahik have learned the lesson.

The time has changed. It seems, Kantipur is regretting the noble decision it made at that time.

When Kantipur published an interview of an intoxicated and sexually aggressive model/actress, Smita Thapa, we questioned its real purpose. A latest front-page article about a sex film actress, Maya Bazin, has made the interview of Smita Thapa insignificant to talk about.

As far as I know, it is illegal to make or sell sex films in Nepal. Such act is punishable by law. Does that make it illegal to create undue interest on such films in general public? I hope, the law pundits will answer the question in comment.

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