Let me admit I once admired this lady. I would follow her Kargil reports, any story she covered was bound to get that extra attention from me because I thought highly of her, and I was willing to pay attention to her.
But this is getting out of hand. When you refuse to accept criticism, it smacks of megalomania. And that is definitely not acceptable. Especially when the world and its godfather is united in their opinion of the coverage she, along with other news channels provided during 26/11. I spent three days glued to the television set and came away with the feeling that except for Times Now, every other channel was going into hyperdrive.
Yes, I did watch her coverage of 26/11. And I expected more from her, because she is capable of better. But one admits that the situation was such that news reporters were doing their own thing in the absence of any guidelines for reporting. But Dutt is a veteran of reporting live from sensitive situations. One would think she would have better questions to ask people waiting for their loved ones trapped within. With that one question, she lost me completely as an admirer. It was, in retrospect, the moment I realised that reportage is now become carrion vulturism.
Other folks have dissected the action again the Netherland based blogger Kunte better, and I’m linking to The Mad Momma who’s done a more informed post and linked to more protests.
As for me, I’m sad. There are blog sites proliferating all over that are libelious and deragatory. But an innocous post (read it in the cache if you can access it), gets slapped with a legal notice. I have read through the post, and it says nothing that I disagree with. And nothing that hasnt been said before.
What about accepting criticism with grace, and learning from one’s mistakes? And toning down the screeching please. And the next time round know that we the nation are not amused.
And yes, if you agree, slap this badge on your blog. Designed by the ultracreative MayG.
About Kiran Manral
Kiran Manral is a writer and major social media influencer. After quitting her full-time journalist’s job when her son was born, Kiran became a mommy blogger on the internet, with a remarkably original voice. She was a journalist at The Asian Age, The Times of India, features editor Cosmopolitan, India Cultural Lead and Trend spotter at Gartner Iconoculture US, Senior Consultant at Vector Insights, Ideas Editor, SheThePeople.TV. Kiran is currently a celebrated author and an independent research and media consultant.
She was shortlisted for the Femina Women Awards for Literary Contribution in 2017. The Indian Council of UN Relations (ICUNR) supported by the Ministry of Women and Children, Govt of India, awarded her the International Women’s Day Award 2018 for excellence in the field of writing. In 2021 she was awarded the Womennovator 1000 Women of Asia award. In 2022, she was named amongst the 75 Iconic Indian women in STEAM by Red Dot Foundation and Beyond Black, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, and British High Commission, New Delhi.
Her novella, Saving Maya, was long-listed for the 2018 Saboteur Award, supported by the Arts Council of England in the UK. Her novels 'The Face At the Window’ and ‘Missing, Presumed Dead were both long-listed for Jio MAMI Word to Screen, and ‘The Face at the Window’ was showcased at the South Asian Film Festival 2019. The Kitty Party Murder was shortlisted for the Popular Choice award at the 2021 JK Papers TOI AutHER awards.
Her other books include The Reluctant Detective, Once Upon A Crush, All Aboard, Karmic Kids-The Story of Parenting Nobody Told You, A Boy’s Guide to Growing Up, True Love Stories, 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting, Raising Kids with Hope and Wonder in Times of a Pandemic and Climate Change, More Things in Heaven and Earth and Rising: 30 Women Who Changed India. She also has published short stories in various magazines, in acclaimed anthologies like Have A Safe Journey, Boo, The Best Asian Speculative Fiction 2018, Grandpa’s Tales, Magical Women and City of Screams. Kiran lives in Mumbai with her family.
Social media handles
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KiranManral
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiranmanral/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KiranManralAuthorPage
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiranmanral/
Fortytwoandcounting 
Pingback: We, the bloggers… « The Mad Momma
Well said. Will display this badge on my blog.
Great. Thanks.
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Barkha dutt needs to go back to journalism school. As a viewer I will say that she needs refresher courses in ethics, research methodology, reportage and interview techniques. She also needs to go back to the basics about production. She is not all that and you do not float the rest of your career based on reporting in Kargil so long ago. Reporting in Kargil did not come off as impeccable either. The situation at hand is no excuse. If her producer is responsible for not reining her in, he/she should also be retrained. The coverage was unprofessional. There I said it.
Great. Now put the badge on your blog. Good to know everyone feels the same about her.
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Displayed badge already.
Like you I was a fan of Barkha Dutt and that was before NDTV became a channel. Barkha, Srinivasan Jain, Appan Menon, Mr. Roy all brought us news then but now it is always a BREAKING NEWS.
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the problem with some journalists is that they are not content with reporting the news. they want to make the news. sometimes they feel they are the news. brakha dutt is in this category. dare i mention another colleague? rajdeep sardesai. reporting is way below them. they want to create news.
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HI,
I agree with most of the points mentioned. Even I used to like her before , but that hardly matters now , for the fact, she has become one irritating person on screen.
She questions in a fashion which reflects the disease of media, I want to meet her once and want to convey how much we hate her .
She better start behaving with rationality as her virtue and pick good values for herself
Saneep Reddy
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she is very pro congress.. or putting it better.. ndtv is a congress product..
was just now watching We the People.. on the bhopal gas tragedy… she asks some of the guests or rather an exclamation.. why BPJ is making so much noise on the bhopal tragedy……. excuse.. they are opposition and have all the right to make noise and question governments practices…
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Some of these journalists are really biased. Whether its is for money , power or anything else depends . But they are all vulnerable. They are a blot on the profession. They preach all, even judiciary, but nothing is applicable to them. Barkha Dutt, Prannoy Roy and Rajdeep Sardesai are examples of these unprincipled lot. Because of them a noble profession’s name is spoiled. They think that after a few days people will forget everything and they can again come on TV and question everybody on anything as if they have a moral high ground. But they are fools if they think so.
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