Hafta letters: Word limit, NL’s tech reportage, podcast length

Hi NL team,

I'll keep it short. I recently watched Rana Ayyub's interview on a YouTube channel called Unscripted. She pointed out that she had asked all the major media houses to publish her tapes from her undercover work related to the riots in Gujarat. But no one agreed to the same.

Madhu Trehan at that time had tweeted, while she was working at Newslaundry, that she offered to publish such tapes during her interview with Rana Ayyub, but she refused and that such an offer was on video record – a claim that Ayyub has refuted and something even I couldn't find on the video as well, at least on the one which is available on the Newslaundry channel. Would you mind clearing the air on it?

I have been following your work since the days of Clothesline and I truly believe in it, so some clarification would be highly appreciated.

Regards,

Kingshuk

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Hi there,

Abhinandan your commodities related Economist recommendation piqued my interest. Having worked for India’s largest zinc manufacturer 10 years ago, I do know a very small bit about the related industries. If that article is true, my former employers may become among the wealthiest in India in 10 years time, surpassing the Adanis and Ambanis.

I think you have an interesting story in your hands to explore, if you ask me. As people in the mining industry will tell you; the smelted metal is worth nothing much. It’s the ore that makes you a billionaire.

Countries like Congo will always be in a rut because the big capex expenditure is in the mining for the ore. These countries do not have the resources, instead, they become debt ridden through IMF or to the companies. They are constantly paying back, instead of making themselves rich.

I would say follow the story of my ex-employer!

Why am I being so cryptic? Your word limit does not allow me to explain.

Dhiraj Krishna Kumar

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Hello NL team,

I hail from Telangana and have a concern regarding a press conference. I watched Ramdev taking on a journalist addressing him, in a singular way. Honestly I got so furious. Is this common across the Northern part of India? If not, why doesn't the journalist community collectively boycott such press conferences? Asking because I believe you attend such press conferences.

Love all your work and keep the show running.

Cheers!

Syed

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Hi Hafta team,

Thank you for getting Saqib Tanveer (episode 375) and R Ramakumar (episode 374) on the show and letting the “Newslaundry-iets”(yes, that's a word now!) get a fresh perspective on what's actually happening in the sub continent.

I wish our media-houses can learn from these pieces and start reporting instead of passing judgment like, “Imran khan ho gaya clean bowled”. Loved the conversation between Raman, Manisha and Meghnad throughout the episode. Can we have more discussion on the Nepal general elections?

Pawan Singh

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Hi team NL,

Last week, Meghnad had a recommendation about the Dyson Sphere Program. Coincidentally, I was playing that game while listening to Hafta, which is pretty meta and fittingly so, for the game itself leans heavily into being meta. So you're definitely not alone Meghnad!

Suhas

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Hello NL,

Unacademy fired 10 percent of its workforce this week, close to 1000 people.

I wanted to ask NL what sources they follow for tech/startup/VC related news. I see a few publications like YourStory.com being widely read in the tech community, but they are all just about the positive news, never any critique. Does NL have any intentions of growing into tech reporting?

Thanks,

Mahendra

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During the last Hafta, Saqib was requested to share his opinion on Pakistan's state, but he kind of refused saying that it's tricky to share his opinion as he is a journalist and Manisha agreed to that point. So my questions to you/journalists are:

1) Do you share your opinion publicly about political issues? If the answer is no, how do you manage to do so? How do you feel about that?

2) Who do you share your opinion with and how (public vs private vs one-on-one) ?

Rhishi

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A one-hour show with even less time to discuss the main news of the week only permits so much for a nuanced discussion. On the Sri Lankan issue, the guests presented slightly differing views on who is to blame for the economic crisis. I wish it was longer, but at least it gave me some food for thought.

But, on other important topics, the lack of the other point of view was sorely lacking. As an example, the guest's opinion on Imran Khan seemed one-sided and simplistic. Maybe if enough time was provided he would have provided a more detailed and balanced view. I won't be surprised if the listener’s takeaway was that Imran Khan came to power solely because of the support of the Pakistani army and he didn't achieve much in power besides a couple of work-in-progress programs.

I found similar problems with the show in dealing with serious issues like Covid. Maybe it is unfair to expect it from Hafta, but it certainly doesn't bode well for the show. (FYI your word count doesn't work.)

Saby

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Hi, I heard in the last Hafta that Manisha is planning a trip to Sydney. Me and my family would love to host her in Melbourne if she plans to travel here. Feel free to reach out at aman.thaper@gmail.com. I am a big fan of you all. Keep going upwards and onwards.

Cheers!!

Aman Thaper