Tidbits of the region's media May 2009
Here’s something new for Asia-watchers: The Economist has launched a ‘Banyan’ column, a new feature on the breadth of the continent. “It’s time for a column about half the world’s people,” intoned the first strap, and Chhetria Patrakar couldn’t agree more. The hope now, of course, is that the space does not merely turn into yet another space to go on about the ‘rise’ of India and China. The signs, at least, are positive: the ‘Asia’ to be covered is defined as stretching from Kazakhstan to New Zealand, and from the Maldives to Japan. And the second Banyan had interesting coverage on the generally silent Thai king as the country’s true political puppet-master.
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Lots of news news from Nepal over past month, the biggest being that the much-awaited Republica (English-language) and Nagarik (Nepali) dailies were on the stands as of 20 April. Nepalis had been promised the two publications since late last year, when the partners of Kantipur, the largest media house in Nepal, split. And though the websites for both have been up and running for months, the print copy remained elusive. Trouble in getting the printing press across the border from India was the reason given for the delay, though CP hears that tussles between the stakeholders abound, perhaps contributing to the problem. But either way, the story of the moment is that both publications are out, and looking and reading nicely.
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With Republic and Nagarik in the market and with a bang at that, other Nepali publications must be feeling the heat. Perhaps it was the fear of being nudged out that led the Kathmandu Post to go all-colour this month, though its Nepali-language sister publication, Kantipur, does not seem to have followed suit. Refurbishing also took place at Nepal’s other major media house, with the Himalayan Times daily launching a sparkly website and launching slick television spots. Though, likewise, there was no moolah left over to go into jazzing up the website for its Nepali daily, the Annapurna Post.
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New ventures are the theme of April outside Nepal, too. In India, a weekly newsmagazine Open was launched at the beginning of the month by the industrial conglomerate RPG Group, and it is clear that no holds were barred in the glossy professional appearance. Mind you, it is likely to be interesting content-wise, as well. In his inaugural note, editor Sandipan Deb makes two basic promises: news people have already seen in other outlets will not be repeated, and the magazine will cater to the taste of “global-minded” Indians who are interested in issues beyond just domestic politics. With Open looking to be a well-rounded magazine, covering a range of issues from politics to celebrity gossip, literature to gadgets and sports to puzzles, CP warns Outlook, Frontline and India Today to watch out.
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Magazines apart, despite the recession, prices of virtual space are soaring. The domain name bhutan.com may be sold for as much as USD 187,000. That is a very specific number, and one on which the current owner of the domain, Syed Hussaini – from Ajman, the smallest of the seven emirates in the UAE – is not willing to negotiate. Hussaini purchased the domain some four years ago, and though it currently has nothing on it, it still attracts over 50,000 visitors each year. The commercial value of the domain name, combined with the fact that others, such as malta.com, have sold for upwards of USD 250,000, makes it little wonder that Hussaini is not willing to bring down his price. Buying and selling domain names certainly seems a great way to get rich quickly. But will this too go bust?
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Facing broadcast blackout, the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party finally scraped together the necessary USD 5540 to pay money owed to Voice of Maldives and Television Maldives for advertisements in 2008 and two 15-minute segments in 2009. Other parties in the red include the Maldives National Congress and the Maldives Social Democratic Party. CP wonders what will be taken as collateral in case of defection: parliamentary seats for the media? President Mohammed Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party is mighty self-righteous here, not restraining itself from issuing a press release bragging about how its payments to both state-owned broadcasting companies were paid in advance. Should we start patting them on the back for planning the annual budget in advance, as well?
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But CP must give it up for the state-owned Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation’s (MNBC), for its equal-opportunities stance on airtime. By dividing the visual pie fairly amongst its power-hungry children, it should reduce any unplanned plumping or pinching. All seven political parties will be free to buy 15 minutes of airtime on either Voice of Maldives or Television Maldives, through a luck-of-the-draw-type disbursement of timeslots. CP chuckles at MNBC managing director Ibrahim Khaleel, the idealist insisting that these airspace giveaways not be used to campaign for parliamentary elections, slated for 9 May, but rather for speaking to Maldivians on issues of importance to the parties.
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What is going on at the Bhutan Times? The first private publication in Bhutan appears to be going through some rough times, with an alleged rift between the board members and the CEO, Tenzin Rigden. What is certain is that an emergency board meeting was called in April. It’s all speculation and rumours from there on, of course, but the juiciest piece of gossip has it that the board was trying to force Rigden to resign. But both parties deny this. Board members say they are unhappy with the way Rigden was running the business side of the paper; it has significant debt due to projects undertaken without consulting them, say the board members. Ultimately, Rigden did not resign, though Phub Zam, a board member, has been assigned to handle the business aspect.
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The government has once again given the Afghan media a threatening shakedown. Two TV journalists have been inaugurated into the now-ordinary list of arrested media personnel: Fahim Kohdamani of the TV channel Emroz, for hosting an entertainment programme on a martyr-commemoration day; and Ajmal Alamzai of Ariana TV, for interviewing former Taliban representatives and a spokesman. Merrymaking seems to be the greater sin, though, because while Kohdamani is still in jail, Alamzai has been freed, and is once again able to use the power of the press to interview more Taliban affiliates. Either that or Afghan police got the Obama memo on increasing dialogue with Afghan moderates, something that certainly seems a good idea. These regularities aside, CP is still patiently waiting for President Karzai to sign the new media law (passed by Parliament but being held hostage by the president), giving the state broadcaster increased independence. Just give it up, sir, you have enough foreign aid to win you propaganda-induced votes this election season!
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In other media-government discourse, the jury is out on whether journalists in India should be requesting protection from the government or vice-versa. Just this month, Anil Mazumdar, editor of Aji, an Assamese daily, was murdered after reportedly receiving political threats. And while the Delhi Union of Journalists calls on the state governments and Election Commission to ensure media safety, especially amidst all the vying for voters, certain politicians were at the receiving end of flying footwear. Reporter Jarnail Singh hurled an off-target size 9 at Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram for an odious whiff of his mind. But to the press’s defence, Congress party lawmaker Naveen Jindal Lal and BJP prime-ministerial candidate L K Advani have all gotten a flavour of the footwear fashion show from non-media affiliates.
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While on the subject of Indian politicians, CP cannot help but remark on the rude and badgering style uniformly adopted by major television anchors interviewing netas buttonholed between waving to the crowds and relaxing in their private jets. But the leaders of what is tiredly called “the world’s largest democracy” are tough if nothing else. Night after night, they return each nasty jab with another, safe in the knowledge that their Sudheendra Kulkarnis, Abhishek Manu Singhvis, A B Bardhans and Sitaram Yechurys are all ensconced in the television studios, smooth talking on behalf of the BJP, Congress and the left. Genuine debate between the prime-ministerial candidates, however, is woefully lacking, and psephology, that new and wonderfully obscure science, reigns in the number game of Lok Sabha seats.
– Chhetria Patrakar
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