6. Vinod Pavarala - “I’m telling my students to stop watching television news”

In this episode, Vinod Pavarala, Senior Professor of Communication at the University of Hyderabad, says news media are promoting a singular narrative which permeates across the society and ends up negating the country's plurality. He says that the free media in a democracy like India is expected to do a lot more than follow “objectivity rituals”, such as he said-she said reporting. But, he says, in the present atmosphere, the idea of holding a government to account is not widely understood.  Pavarala commends YouTubers for asking the tough questions, but also points out that it’s not the same as “hardcore journalism”. Their lack of resources means their newsgathering capabilities are restricted and they are confined to analysis and commentary. He also adds that there is hope in the richness of alternate media, and the questions that his students ask about the egregious developments around them.