IPL | Bangalore vs Kings Punjab at Mohali -12/05/08

[Cryin Out Loud]

I'm just surprised you call that an independent corroboration. Is that what you call it in professional circles? I'm confused.

Ok, when confirming a story, you usually need two sources (at least) to verify its credibility. Broadly, this holds for stories where people make claims. In this case Mallya has made a claim. I do not know what others around him are saying. So I will wait before making a judgment.

The easiest option - one which is often exercised - is to do a 'he said'/ 'she said' story. That way you carry both points of view and still get your story out.

But if you are reporting on a factual event, you most of the time need independent corroboration outside of your original source. This second source should ideally be close enough to the action, but not known to the first source.

Why? Because your original source could be manipulating you, and often does that. Sharma's is a partial corroboration, because he has not yet spoken clearly, except to defend himself. (BTW, I never meant to imply that Sharma is an independent corroboration)

The rare exceptions (carrying an 'event/factual' story when someone goes off the record) is, for example, are when the person is both 'high up' and speaking of something that he or she is going to do (e.g. Mushy goes off the record and says he is planning to dismiss the Pakistani PM tomorrow)

This is not so in Mallya's case. It is more a battle of near equals (in stature) with Dravid. Both sides have a POV, which is likely to be widely divergent. And Mallya is known to manipulate opinion.

Now, if Mallya had given me the interview, I would have carried it. Why? Because he is going on record.

But to believe in what he is saying, and report it as such, well that's a different kettle of fish.

In this case every person will have their POV. Sifting through that will take time. And of course all those people will have to speak up in the first case!

 

[Iqbal'sh]

Didn't he say as much on TV (NDTV I think). If that's not on the record I don't know what else qualifies.

Thanks for clarifying that Charu is not classed as independent. That had me scratching my head for a while.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Didn't he say as much on TV (NDTV I think). If that's not on the record I don't know what else qualifies.

...

Yeah, which is why I said I would have carried that story.

He goes on record, makes his claim, I get a great story, my editor's happy, my paper/ channel does great business, and if anyone gets sued, hey ask Mallya! He said so!

 

[Iqbal'sh]

Yeah, which is why I said I would have carried that story.

He goes on record, makes his claim, I get a great story, my editor's happy, my paper/ channel does great business, and if anyone gets sued, hey ask Mallya! He said so!

So is there a big litigation minefield in India like in the West? I took it for granted that journos in this part of the world pretty much concocted 60-70% of stories (or certainly added masala to some) safe in the knowledge that a libel claim would not be forthcoming.

 

[Bh4i]

Well, another unusual way to get out for Misbah...

Those who missed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK9ZIBYTngk

Or: http://www.mediafire.com/?qtxfxdimnwt

Best of Misbah Dismissals - Volume 1 to be released soon

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

So is there a big litigation minefield in India like in the West?

Yes, except that cases take decades to get decided. I had an editor who had to spend 20-25 days a year traveling to no name towns (well, that is an exaggeration, lets says state capitals) to attend cases in which he had been named. Not just for his stories, mind you, but all in which the magazine was named as a respondent. We are a litigious society as well, when you look under the surface.

I took it for granted that journos in this part of the world pretty much concocted 60-70% of stories (or certainly added masala to some) safe in the knowledge that a libel claim would not be forthcoming.

By this part of the world do you mean India? If so, yes. Let us say that 70% of 'publications' do, but these have a circulation of 10 men and their dogs. What would you gain by prosecuting them- at least that is what most people think, especially given the time to litigate.

The bigger publications, because they are more prominent, have to be much more careful. Which is not to say masala isn't added. But the 'preparation' has to be much more, erm, 'sophisticated'.

Edit: And the dish has to have large kernels of the truth!

 

[Dhonifan]

Well, another unusual way to get out for Misbah...

Those who missed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK9ZIBYTngk

Or: http://www.mediafire.com/?qtxfxdimnwt

Best of Misbah Dismissals - Volume 1 to be released soon

It's a strange dismissal because as far as I could see, there was no appeal.

 

[Bh4i]

I also thought there was no appeal... but it was the end of over, so it was time for commercials. Maybe someone of the opposition made a appeal, but it seems unlikely. The umpire himself found the stump on the ground.

Very weird indeed.

 

[Iqbal'sh]

I also thought there was no appeal... but it was the end of over, so it was time for commercials. Maybe someone of the opposition made a appeal, but it seems unlikely. The umpire himself found the stump on the ground.

Very weird indeed.

He was dismissed on the last ball of Sreesanths over, however the TV company went to the commercials after the fifth ball, when they returned they were replaying what happened and it became clear to the commies that Misbah had gone too far back and trodden onto the base of the stumps.