Then it got weird ....

So, Barkha Dutt, who is according to her own channel's jingle, one of India's most admired and respected journalists, has penned an opinion piece, defending the media's alleged transgressions in the Bombay terror attack coverage.

It is a lengthy piece, still we read it.


Divested of righteous indignation and poetic flourish, essentially the report makes the following points:

1. The internet is buzzing with vitriol against media in general and Barkha in particular - well, tough love Barkha.
   
   
2. She stresses that this eruption of allegations is only one small part of a larger picture - and that there is also an avalanche of words of encouragement and praise. This point sort of renders the first point and the article irrelevant but we will move on. As an example she sites InfoSys founder Narayan Murthy, he termed the coverage the finest piece of journalism in a decade. Me scratchy scratchy your backy you baily me out, you hear? Tough times eh?
   
   
3. She terms the allegations "concocted and slanderous charges" and "malice and rumour". Really?
   
   
4. She makes the point that in the absence of any instructions on site and in the absence of any such framework the media broke NO rules. This outright stumped us. There are grave implications of this assertion. Hope she is only joking.
   
   
5. She also trades charges with the Navy bosses.

She also makes the point that it was a tough assignment, a grueling 72 hour experience. This is the only item on which we can offer help. We do it every day, it is called delegation. But then again, they would have to record a new channel jingle.