Let me tell you something shocking. How a fake story gets planted in media. People wonder how it happens that totally fake thing gets printed. Goes back to more than a decade ago, when youths were arrested. If suspects were in ATS or some other custody, reporters in that city...

...were expected to file follow-up stories for days, even weeks. Especially, if a 'prized catch' in custody of a special unit that doesn't share lot info or just because bureau chief-editor want 'big news' to be taken on page one. 'How can we let the story die in two days'....

'What has the guy told in interrogation, what's the revelation, what's the module, what CDR tells, what are his links, has he broken down, does he cry, does he regret...' all these questions are standard. But when you don't get a 'scoop' & you are expected to bring it, then...

at some places 1-2 reporters decide that let's write 'this thing' with slight variations that are discussed. Tell in office, 'sunne mein aa raha hai aisa...sootron (sources) se likh dein'. There is a standard technique also--he is unhappy with food, he wants this. Who will know?

There is this dirty trick too about crime reporting in India. Ask police, 'is he connected to X or Y gang?' Police may not have interrogated, & would say, 'yet to ask'. So easy to write in copy, 'links with this group [according to sources]' but in headline it will be direct.

Now add somewhere in the copy that officials have said that 'they are interrogating, the guy is a tough nut to crack, hardened, doesn't reveal info and it may come up in the course of probe'. But the damage is done, the headline and intro, all have set up things well.

There are reasons for this. Reporters with big, fat ego who within few years get to believe that they are 'investigative journalists' but if mocked, 'yaar khabar nahi nikaal paa rahe', then it hurts, so some angle has to be brought. A lot of aspects. There is another aspect.

A 'national newspaper' has editions in state capitals but get news from districts where the stringer sometimes get as low as Rs 75-100 per story. Chief calls from the state capital on why he is not coming up with follow-up. 'Doosre akhbar mein to chhapa hai, tum kya kar rahe ho'

If someone is in trouble, family's immediate focus is on getting him released or to think how person doesn't face torture & gets proper food, rather than focusing on it, tackling this menace. No one else has the access or knows the truth. So it continues. Sab gorakhdhandha hai.

In the nineties, if any gang from South India was arrested in MP-UP, reporters would often write on their own, 'Inke LTTE se sambandh ki jaanch ki jaayegi'. Just because it was enough to make news look 'sensational', 'important' and worth 'page 1'. #Media #Journalism

In those days, in press conf, when a gang of 'cycle lifter' or 'ganja seller' with 'South Indian members' was caught, reporters would invariably ask, 'do they have LTTE connection?'. SP would say, 'We will interrogate'. Headline next day--Gang busted, under scanner for LTTE link.

And, many of the guys don't feel this is wrong or criminal. They really feel it is 'harmless' (sic), a story filed, day's work done. Trick of trade. It is because there is no need felt to verify a sensitive story--just write it, quote a 'source', anonymous source & that's enough.