2005-2014

Stung by the sting. A group of Mumbai reporters found out much to their dismay that in the age of exposes, some operations can backfire. Early on Saturday morning, two journalists from BAG Films, a TV news agency, entered the premises of the Mulund fire station, hoping to catch firemen sleeping on duty. But they found the marshals were not only up but alert enough to spot trespassers. The...

In the world’s second most populous country, 12 senior U.S. editors and producers met with a wide cross-section of Indians, from the country’s prime minister to AIDS-infected commercial sex workers, from a billionaire CEO of a high-tech company to vendors in a low-income New Delhi market. The two-week trip to India in March 2005 sought to provide the editors with a broad view of the diversity of...

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati on Friday sent legal notices to 16 channels, including NDTV, Aaj Tak, ESPN-Star Sports and CNBC, for "violating copyright law" while showing footage of the India-Pakistan cricket series. As per the figures released by the public broadcaster, which has exclusive terrestrial and satellite rights for the high profile series, the dues run to about Rs 1.16 crore. "We...

Chief editor of the Kashmir Valley’s vernacular daily Al-Saffa News, Ashraf Shaban, has been arrested and detained at Police Station Kulgam in a case of brazen impersonation on the orders of Sub Judge Kulgam late on Thursday evening. Informed sources told the Excelsior that on the orders of Sub Judge Kulgam, Mr Jawwad Ahmed, Police Station Kulgam on Thursday evening registered case FIR No: 38 of...

‘‘Aman, don’t be naughty,’’ teases the voice without a face. The TV star responds with a smile: "That’s the way I am." Five days ago, the voice plied a Bollywood villain with drinks, got him to be naughtier. The final act in both cases: a TV crew barges in, squeezes out reactions from stunned victims, hands over the mike to the anchors to proclaim the sting a success. Left unanswered are a horde...

The $5.3 billion McGraw-Hill Companies, which owns Business Week, wants to publish the weekly magazine in India and has sought a licence from the government for this purpose. "First, we would like to look for a local partner for printing and publishing Business Week in India carrying local stories," Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the company, said on Thursday...

Four days after the Shakti Kapoor clips stung Bollywood, India TV has now got a TV star running for cover. Aman Verma, host of Indian Idol and star of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, has filed a complaint with Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy against India TV Editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma and producer Suhaib Illiyasi, alleging that there was an attempt to ‘‘frame’’ him in another sting operation...

Amchi Mumbai is guaranteed to witness some hectic print media activity next fiscal with the launch of several new English dailies. Independent News from Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL) is scheduled to debut in May, followed by Hindustan Times’ much talked about maiden Mumbai edition in June. Plus, the ZEE-Dainik Bhaskar combine will be launching its newspaper too. There's also talk about...

Attention Associated Press members, prepare to get more for your money: Now available, two leads for the price of one. In a break with tradition at the 156-year-old news cooperative, the AP will now offer two different leads for many of its news stories, the organization confirmed Wednesday. "The concept is simple: On major spot stories -- especially when events happen early in the day -- we will...

IRS 2005 R1 numbers bring good news to Marathi publications. The segment has on the whole registered a growth. Looking at numbers, right on top is Lokmat, which has grown from 78.24 lacs in IRS 2003 R2 to 82.23 lacs, showing an increase of 9.39 lacs. The number two player in the market, Sakal has also registered a strong growth of 9.22 lacs giving it a present readership figure of 5856000. What is...