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)
[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:
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.
When Kantipur published the following photo of Himani, people everywhere were talking about the pierced bellybutton of the former princess.
Even if Nepali press have exaggerated (which doesn’t seem true) some unanswered question are:
There were reports about the tainted products from all over Nepal. Given our media house’s capabilities and dedication, I don’t believe Nepali media can create such a large scaled fabricated story (as Indian Embassy told). And, it was not a single media house that reported the story. Apart from Nayapatrika, Weeklynepal, ABC news, Kantipur, radiomirmire, Pokharatoday, Pokharanews, Yubabahas; a lot of media had published independent news on the issue.
The news, photographs, and quotes of general public don’t look fabricated. They are from different sources, involve different people and are from different parts of the country. For example, some of the places from where reports of inconsumable products were reported (collected from different sources):
Various media bodies in Nepal have expressed serious concern over Friday’s statement of Indian embassy.
However, Indian media are doing their own media campaign against Nepali media. (When Embassy itself is that irresponsible, I can’t blame the Indian media!)
Some of the headlines in Indian media:
In contrast, Nepali media headlines read:
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 inaccurateâ€. 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.
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 celebrityâ€.
…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. (update in March 2015, the link is dead and is removed)
Continue reading
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.
