A Central Government report by a Group of Ministers (GoM) accessed by the Caravan has detailed the government’s efforts to set the “narrative” and counter what the government sees as negative publicity in the media. The report, prepared by five cabinet ministers and four ministers of state, was being prepared at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak and “prominent persons from the media field”, “members of industry/business chambers,” and other “prominent personalities” were consulted before it was prepared. The GoM report laid out a plan to track journalists who paint the government in an unflattering light and to “promote” and “nurture” those willing to put out what the powers that be regard as news. In this episode of the Editorial, our Managing Editor Mr Sujit Nair discusses the report.
Full link of original article: Paranoia about digital coverage led ministers to propose media clampdown, monitoring “negative influencers”
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