[Music] so hello everybody I am sorry Kathy
so hello everybody I am sorry Kathy
so hello everybody I am sorry Kathy Valley I’m 20 money or old and I’m a
Valley I’m 20 money or old and I’m a
Valley I’m 20 money or old and I’m a journalist and now and I’m going to talk
journalist and now and I’m going to talk
journalist and now and I’m going to talk about what I’ve experienced as
about what I’ve experienced as
about what I’ve experienced as journalists in all these years so I
journalists in all these years so I
journalists in all these years so I wanted to be a journalist ever since I
wanted to be a journalist ever since I
wanted to be a journalist ever since I was in third standard and because I was
was in third standard and because I was
was in third standard and because I was always so keen on being a journalist I
always so keen on being a journalist I
always so keen on being a journalist I have was this pretended that I already
have was this pretended that I already
have was this pretended that I already am one so when I was young and used to
am one so when I was young and used to
am one so when I was young and used to go for vacations with family I used to
go for vacations with family I used to
go for vacations with family I used to carry this tiny notebook with a pen and
carry this tiny notebook with a pen and
carry this tiny notebook with a pen and I used to keep taking notes here and
I used to keep taking notes here and
I used to keep taking notes here and there pretending that I already am a
there pretending that I already am a
there pretending that I already am a journalist over these years I have seen
journalist over these years I have seen
journalist over these years I have seen a change in the tones of people when
a change in the tones of people when
a change in the tones of people when they hear that you’re a journalist from
they hear that you’re a journalist from
they hear that you’re a journalist from respect it’s come down to a sincere
respect it’s come down to a sincere
respect it’s come down to a sincere sense of disbelief and anger to coat the
sense of disbelief and anger to coat the
sense of disbelief and anger to coat the first instance we have a college
first instance we have a college
first instance we have a college newspaper I was the editor of the
newspaper I was the editor of the
newspaper I was the editor of the newspaper there were certain
newspaper there were certain
newspaper there were certain disagreements between on some content
disagreements between on some content
disagreements between on some content between the college authorities and the
between the college authorities and the
between the college authorities and the editorial team and the entire class
editorial team and the entire class
editorial team and the entire class during the time used to joke about how
during the time used to joke about how
during the time used to joke about how the editors will go to the jail sadly
the editors will go to the jail sadly
the editors will go to the jail sadly enough it didn’t stay a joke for long
enough it didn’t stay a joke for long
enough it didn’t stay a joke for long and it came as a serious warning from
and it came as a serious warning from
and it came as a serious warning from the college authorities that we might go
the college authorities that we might go
the college authorities that we might go to jail
to jail
to jail despite the article being true to all
despite the article being true to all
despite the article being true to all journalistic standards but that’s a
journalistic standards but that’s a
journalistic standards but that’s a different story
different story
different story the sad part here is the fact that
the sad part here is the fact that
the sad part here is the fact that questioning the authorities as
questioning the authorities as
questioning the authorities as journalists is considered to be
journalists is considered to be
journalists is considered to be something equal to being something
something equal to being something
something equal to being something criminal
criminal
criminal now the second instance is this random
now the second instance is this random
now the second instance is this random Facebook post that I put on one day it’s
Facebook post that I put on one day it’s
Facebook post that I put on one day it’s a it’s an observation about how the
a it’s an observation about how the
a it’s an observation about how the biggest dilemma for urban urban
biggest dilemma for urban urban
biggest dilemma for urban urban upper-middle class people is the
upper-middle class people is the
upper-middle class people is the difference between the hay and yoghurt
difference between the hay and yoghurt
difference between the hay and yoghurt and this was the cute story of how
and this was the cute story of how
and this was the cute story of how Western imperialism got us some a very
Western imperialism got us some a very
Western imperialism got us some a very random joke some person comments on its
random joke some person comments on its
random joke some person comments on its saying look at these journalists trying
saying look at these journalists trying
saying look at these journalists trying to impose their dilemmas or an urban
to impose their dilemmas or an urban
to impose their dilemmas or an urban masses it shows how human beings these
masses it shows how human beings these
masses it shows how human beings these days react to other human beings
days react to other human beings
days react to other human beings reporting their own anxieties that means
reporting their own anxieties that means
reporting their own anxieties that means we’re doing the wrong the job wrong
we’re doing the wrong the job wrong
we’re doing the wrong the job wrong somewhere the third instance is these
somewhere the third instance is these
somewhere the third instance is these these random Facebook posts and comments
these random Facebook posts and comments
these random Facebook posts and comments that I keep coming across on Twitter and
that I keep coming across on Twitter and
that I keep coming across on Twitter and unfazed
unfazed
unfazed where people assume the premise to what
where people assume the premise to what
where people assume the premise to what I am talking when what I’m saying is it
I am talking when what I’m saying is it
I am talking when what I’m saying is it just becomes people’s perceptions
just becomes people’s perceptions
just becomes people’s perceptions towards it it just becomes presumptuous
towards it it just becomes presumptuous
towards it it just becomes presumptuous because they assume that I’m a
because they assume that I’m a
because they assume that I’m a journalist and I become with a certain
journalist and I become with a certain
journalist and I become with a certain set of values we don’t look at
set of values we don’t look at
set of values we don’t look at journalists anymore as the watchdogs of
journalists anymore as the watchdogs of
journalists anymore as the watchdogs of democracy or as or as people who will
democracy or as or as people who will
democracy or as or as people who will voice our opinions we look at
voice our opinions we look at
voice our opinions we look at journalists as somebody who we need to
journalists as somebody who we need to
journalists as somebody who we need to listen to when all the other channels
listen to when all the other channels
listen to when all the other channels all the other TV entertainment channels
all the other TV entertainment channels
all the other TV entertainment channels are on an ad break and somewhere some TV
are on an ad break and somewhere some TV
are on an ad break and somewhere some TV news channel is showing us the rasta to
news channel is showing us the rasta to
news channel is showing us the rasta to the zhurqis serie now let’s all take a
the zhurqis serie now let’s all take a
the zhurqis serie now let’s all take a moment and remind ourselves of the
moment and remind ourselves of the
moment and remind ourselves of the headlines that we have seen in the past
headlines that we have seen in the past
headlines that we have seen in the past one week on your phones on your in the
one week on your phones on your in the
one week on your phones on your in the newspaper in the magazines anywhere now
newspaper in the magazines anywhere now
newspaper in the magazines anywhere now for a moment go back to the GK books of
for a moment go back to the GK books of
for a moment go back to the GK books of 7th 8th standard chapters on Indian
7th 8th standard chapters on Indian
7th 8th standard chapters on Indian diversity of about how the countries
diversity of about how the countries
diversity of about how the countries such a diverse land now put these two
such a diverse land now put these two
such a diverse land now put these two pieces of information together do you
pieces of information together do you
pieces of information together do you think that the stories that the media
think that the stories that the media
think that the stories that the media shows you today are representative of
shows you today are representative of
shows you today are representative of this huge huge country of course no the
this huge huge country of course no the
this huge huge country of course no the amount of stories that the media chooses
amount of stories that the media chooses
amount of stories that the media chooses to not show us and that we eventually
to not show us and that we eventually
to not show us and that we eventually stop caring about is humongous the
stop caring about is humongous the
stop caring about is humongous the amounts of facts the misleading facts
amounts of facts the misleading facts
amounts of facts the misleading facts that the media feeds us is warping the
that the media feeds us is warping the
that the media feeds us is warping the media that we consume today is laced
media that we consume today is laced
media that we consume today is laced with political interests the interests
with political interests the interests
with political interests the interests of the advertisers and has become
of the advertisers and has become
of the advertisers and has become conveniently selective to bring this
conveniently selective to bring this
conveniently selective to bring this point home I’m going to talk about
point home I’m going to talk about
point home I’m going to talk about something that I have personally worked
something that I have personally worked
something that I have personally worked very closely with half the population
very closely with half the population
very closely with half the population almost half the population in the
almost half the population in the
almost half the population in the country are women 60% of the total
country are women 60% of the total
country are women 60% of the total population of the country is dependent
population of the country is dependent
population of the country is dependent on agriculture as a profession do you
on agriculture as a profession do you
on agriculture as a profession do you know that the entire amount of food that
know that the entire amount of food that
know that the entire amount of food that is produced in this country today 78
is produced in this country today 78
is produced in this country today 78 percent of it is produced by women only
percent of it is produced by women only
percent of it is produced by women only 13 percent women in the country own land
13 percent women in the country own land
13 percent women in the country own land right now no official data has the data
right now no official data has the data
right now no official data has the data on farmer suicides
on farmer suicides
on farmer suicides if these farmers are women farmers now
if these farmers are women farmers now
if these farmers are women farmers now let me tell you a story
let me tell you a story
let me tell you a story the woman in this picture in the yellow
the woman in this picture in the yellow
the woman in this picture in the yellow sari her name is Parvathi she’s 55 years
sari her name is Parvathi she’s 55 years
sari her name is Parvathi she’s 55 years she’s so poor that she buys five bucks
she’s so poor that she buys five bucks
she’s so poor that she buys five bucks of oil each day to go and cook each meal
of oil each day to go and cook each meal
of oil each day to go and cook each meal she faces domestic violence from her
she faces domestic violence from her
she faces domestic violence from her husband who is wheelchair ridden and
husband who is wheelchair ridden and
husband who is wheelchair ridden and from her son when she goes and works in
from her son when she goes and works in
from her son when she goes and works in the field she gets 120 bucks for the
the field she gets 120 bucks for the
the field she gets 120 bucks for the same amount of work that any man would
same amount of work that any man would
same amount of work that any man would get paid 200 bucks the problem right now
get paid 200 bucks the problem right now
get paid 200 bucks the problem right now in the country is that the Supreme Court
in the country is that the Supreme Court
in the country is that the Supreme Court took until 2005 to realize that
took until 2005 to realize that
took until 2005 to realize that daughters have a right over paternal
daughters have a right over paternal
daughters have a right over paternal property the problem is that the
property the problem is that the
property the problem is that the Constitution of India still doesn’t
Constitution of India still doesn’t
Constitution of India still doesn’t recognize women farmers explicitly in
recognize women farmers explicitly in
recognize women farmers explicitly in their definition despites attempt being
their definition despites attempt being
their definition despites attempt being made since 2002 we need to realize the
made since 2002 we need to realize the
made since 2002 we need to realize the fact right now that we live in a country
fact right now that we live in a country
fact right now that we live in a country where only 13% women owned land as I
where only 13% women owned land as I
where only 13% women owned land as I told you and that is the core problem
told you and that is the core problem
told you and that is the core problem when women do not own land or when any
when women do not own land or when any
when women do not own land or when any farmer does not own land you’re not
farmer does not own land you’re not
farmer does not own land you’re not entitled to any sort of government
entitled to any sort of government
entitled to any sort of government subsidies when that doesn’t happen your
subsidies when that doesn’t happen your
subsidies when that doesn’t happen your cost of investment increases when your
cost of investment increases when your
cost of investment increases when your cost of investment goes high you need
cost of investment goes high you need
cost of investment goes high you need loans but you can’t get a kiss on credit
loans but you can’t get a kiss on credit
loans but you can’t get a kiss on credit because of course you don’t have land so
because of course you don’t have land so
because of course you don’t have land so you can’t get kiss on credit card again
you can’t get kiss on credit card again
you can’t get kiss on credit card again which leads you to the local moneylender
which leads you to the local moneylender
which leads you to the local moneylender who charges you thrice the interest now
who charges you thrice the interest now
who charges you thrice the interest now your cost of input goes high the returns
your cost of input goes high the returns
your cost of input goes high the returns are meager so what do you do you end up
are meager so what do you do you end up
are meager so what do you do you end up doing what most farmers in the country –
doing what most farmers in the country –
doing what most farmers in the country – which is commit a suicide although if
which is commit a suicide although if
which is commit a suicide although if you’re a woman even that do won’t do
you’re a woman even that do won’t do
you’re a woman even that do won’t do much good to you because that won’t get
much good to you because that won’t get
much good to you because that won’t get any compensation for your kids that you
any compensation for your kids that you
any compensation for your kids that you leave behind had you been a man the
leave behind had you been a man the
leave behind had you been a man the story would have been completely
story would have been completely
story would have been completely different so practically what I’m trying
different so practically what I’m trying
different so practically what I’m trying to say right now is it’s maybe slightly
to say right now is it’s maybe slightly
to say right now is it’s maybe slightly easier for me to be a NASA scientist
easier for me to be a NASA scientist
easier for me to be a NASA scientist than be a woman farmer that’s an
than be a woman farmer that’s an
than be a woman farmer that’s an absolutely bad joke because I have no
absolutely bad joke because I have no
absolutely bad joke because I have no skills whatsoever to be a NASA scientist
skills whatsoever to be a NASA scientist
skills whatsoever to be a NASA scientist now you must wonder why did I tell you
now you must wonder why did I tell you
now you must wonder why did I tell you that entire story I told you the story
that entire story I told you the story
that entire story I told you the story because when this story reaches you this
because when this story reaches you this
because when this story reaches you this is how it looks all these struggles all
is how it looks all these struggles all
is how it looks all these struggles all the adversities and what the media
the adversities and what the media
the adversities and what the media chooses to show you is this cell
chooses to show you is this cell
chooses to show you is this cell sessional piece of information and I
sessional piece of information and I
sessional piece of information and I also strongly believe that had a woman
also strongly believe that had a woman
also strongly believe that had a woman reported the story had a woman
reported the story had a woman
reported the story had a woman overlooked the story had a sorry I had a
overlooked the story had a sorry I had a
overlooked the story had a sorry I had a woman reported the story I had a woman
woman reported the story I had a woman
woman reported the story I had a woman approved the story the headline probably
approved the story the headline probably
approved the story the headline probably would have looked a slightly more
would have looked a slightly more
would have looked a slightly more different a slightly more better version
different a slightly more better version
different a slightly more better version of what it looks right now the fact that
of what it looks right now the fact that
of what it looks right now the fact that more women need women to represent them
more women need women to represent them
more women need women to represent them in the media cannot be stated enough
in the media cannot be stated enough
in the media cannot be stated enough number of times but that’s a story for
number of times but that’s a story for
number of times but that’s a story for some other day now coming to more facts
some other day now coming to more facts
some other day now coming to more facts do you know that the government of India
do you know that the government of India
do you know that the government of India collected funds over a huge period of
collected funds over a huge period of
collected funds over a huge period of time promising that these will be
time promising that these will be
time promising that these will be invested to create a cleaner environment
invested to create a cleaner environment
invested to create a cleaner environment and then one fine day all those funds
and then one fine day all those funds
and then one fine day all those funds were diverted to promote some of the
were diverted to promote some of the
were diverted to promote some of the policy do you know that the laws
policy do you know that the laws
policy do you know that the laws governing the wetlands of the country
governing the wetlands of the country
governing the wetlands of the country are being relaxed do you know that we
are being relaxed do you know that we
are being relaxed do you know that we are making it easier for the industries
are making it easier for the industries
are making it easier for the industries to pollute by each passing day do you
to pollute by each passing day do you
to pollute by each passing day do you know that the eggs that you consume are
know that the eggs that you consume are
know that the eggs that you consume are antibiotic resistant so one day you
antibiotic resistant so one day you
antibiotic resistant so one day you might just pop an antibiotic pill and it
might just pop an antibiotic pill and it
might just pop an antibiotic pill and it would stop working on your body because
would stop working on your body because
would stop working on your body because of the poultry that you consuming do you
of the poultry that you consuming do you
of the poultry that you consuming do you know that the president’s own office yes
know that the president’s own office yes
know that the president’s own office yes the president of India’s own office
the president of India’s own office
the president of India’s own office leaked the Adha details of five people
leaked the Adha details of five people
leaked the Adha details of five people which is flouting the rule of the land
which is flouting the rule of the land
which is flouting the rule of the land the president’s own office so many
the president’s own office so many
the president’s own office so many things so many huge things happen in the
things so many huge things happen in the
things so many huge things happen in the last month but what did we see the last
last month but what did we see the last
last month but what did we see the last month we saw this and we saw this
and you must wonder why Mattel why why
and you must wonder why Mattel why why does any of this matter to you it
does any of this matter to you it
does any of this matter to you it matters to you because you are losing
matters to you because you are losing
matters to you because you are losing your right as a viewer to see what you
your right as a viewer to see what you
your right as a viewer to see what you want to see what you should be shown and
want to see what you should be shown and
want to see what you should be shown and what is any responsible media’s duty to
what is any responsible media’s duty to
what is any responsible media’s duty to show you the sad thing here is that the
show you the sad thing here is that the
show you the sad thing here is that the media sets an agenda and it shows you
media sets an agenda and it shows you
media sets an agenda and it shows you what it wants you to see this this and
what it wants you to see this this and
what it wants you to see this this and this is dumping you down as a viewer
this is dumping you down as a viewer
this is dumping you down as a viewer also at this point I need to tell you
also at this point I need to tell you
also at this point I need to tell you something the fact that India has fallen
something the fact that India has fallen
something the fact that India has fallen down to 136 number on the global Press
down to 136 number on the global Press
down to 136 number on the global Press Freedom Index the data just came
Freedom Index the data just came
Freedom Index the data just came recently and we’re we’re 136th that that
recently and we’re we’re 136th that that
recently and we’re we’re 136th that that is below the water on Palestine which
is below the water on Palestine which
is below the water on Palestine which means that a lot of journalists who want
means that a lot of journalists who want
means that a lot of journalists who want to get their stories to you cannot do so
to get their stories to you cannot do so
to get their stories to you cannot do so because they don’t have the resources
because they don’t have the resources
because they don’t have the resources and unfortunately not the freedom to do
and unfortunately not the freedom to do
and unfortunately not the freedom to do that so when you ask questions you
that so when you ask questions you
that so when you ask questions you empower the media you empower yourself
empower the media you empower yourself
empower the media you empower yourself and you empower the society because
and you empower the society because
and you empower the society because these questions need to be asked the
these questions need to be asked the
these questions need to be asked the media needs to be questioned the
media needs to be questioned the
media needs to be questioned the government needs to be questioned and
government needs to be questioned and
government needs to be questioned and you as a viewer have every right to ask
you as a viewer have every right to ask
you as a viewer have every right to ask these questions because you pay for what
these questions because you pay for what
these questions because you pay for what you watch and that you’re paying for
you watch and that you’re paying for
you watch and that you’re paying for what you’re watching you have every
what you’re watching you have every
what you’re watching you have every right to question its authenticity and
right to question its authenticity and
right to question its authenticity and its credibility because you need to
its credibility because you need to
its credibility because you need to realize your power as a viewer because
realize your power as a viewer because
realize your power as a viewer because when you do that this story about
when you do that this story about
when you do that this story about poverty Parvati’s land rights become
poverty Parvati’s land rights become
poverty Parvati’s land rights become important to the media if you refuse to
important to the media if you refuse to
important to the media if you refuse to watch this this woman who delivered a
watch this this woman who delivered a
watch this this woman who delivered a baby on the hospital floor becomes news
baby on the hospital floor becomes news
baby on the hospital floor becomes news if you refuse to watch this this farmer
if you refuse to watch this this farmer
if you refuse to watch this this farmer who committed a suicide yes in that
who committed a suicide yes in that
who committed a suicide yes in that manner on that transformer will be shown
manner on that transformer will be shown
manner on that transformer will be shown on your television sets the entire day
on your television sets the entire day
on your television sets the entire day as breaking news
as breaking news
as breaking news if you refuse to consider this as
if you refuse to consider this as
if you refuse to consider this as breaking news
the incessant sexism misogyny
the incessant sexism misogyny misinformation selective representation
misinformation selective representation
misinformation selective representation misrepresentation noise and a gazillion
misrepresentation noise and a gazillion
misrepresentation noise and a gazillion other nonsense will be continued to be
other nonsense will be continued to be
other nonsense will be continued to be aired on your television sets as news
aired on your television sets as news
aired on your television sets as news till the time you choose to refuse to
till the time you choose to refuse to
till the time you choose to refuse to watch it we need brave journalists we do
watch it we need brave journalists we do
watch it we need brave journalists we do but we also need brave viewers thank you
”
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