मीडिया जगत की खबरों का विश्लेषण करने वाली वेबसाइट न्यूजलांड्री इन दिनों मुश्किल में है. आजतक ग्रुप ने न्यूजलांड्री का यूट्यूब चैनल डिलीट करा दिया है. आजतक ने कापीराइट क्लेम के आधार पर कई वीडियोज पर स्ट्राइक किया और यूट्यूब ने नियमत: तीन स्ट्राइक आने के बाद न्यूजलांड्री के यूट्यूब चैनल को टर्मिनेट कर दिया.
आजतक ने इसके बाद दो करोड़ रुपये का मानहानि का मुकदमा न्यूजलांड्री के उपर कर दिया है. इस सबसे न्यूजलांड्री प्रबंधन और यहां काम करने वाले लोग सकते में हैं. कई मीडिया संगठनों ने आजतक और यूट्यूब की इस कार्रवाई की निंदा की है और इस अभिव्यक्ति की आजादी पर कुठाराघात करार दिया है.
पेश है पत्रकार संगठन डीयूजे की प्रेस रिलीज-
Can’t You Take it TV Today, asks DUJ
The Delhi Union of Journalists expresses its shock at the India Today group’s attack on free speech. The group has filed a Rs 2 crore suit against the news website ‘Newslaundry’ alleging defamation and copyright violations. Incredibly, the lawsuit demands that as many as 34 articles and 65 videos published by Newslaundry on its website and You Tube channel be taken down!
Newslaundry is one of the very few websites that analyses and critiques the media. India has a huge dearth of media studies and Newslaundry, in its lighthearted, unique fashion fills this gap by providing both information and critical analysis of the media today. We applaud its frank and fearless approach at a time when the majority of the media merely cheerleads the government and ruling party’s events and actions. It is ridiculous that the use of materials of the TV Today channels to critique these should be termed ‘copyright violations’.
Incredibly, the TV Today Network suit asks the Delhi High Court to restrain Newslaundry from “writing, tweeting or publishing” anything defamatory about its channels, anchors and management. The DUJ is convinced that no such blanket censorship order will be passed by the court. We are surprised that YouTube has in the recent past bowed to pressure from the India Today group to take down several Newslaundry videos.
We urge YouTube to desist from such censorship.
DUJ has repeatedly called for repeal of the defamation laws that are misused by corporates and individuals to browbeat the media. We are deeply shocked that a big media group should use the same intimidatory tactics against a small website. Media groups must defend free speech, not attack it. Can’t you take it TV Today?
