Brokering News : It’s time for media to look within, Documentary film, MIFF 2012
Brokering News : It’s time for media to look within 'Brokering News'— is a film by Umesh Agarwal that examines three aspects of paid news — how politicians pay for positive coverage during elections, how coverage and movie reviews are orchestrated and paid news about business and industry. “Brokering News’ looks into the charges of paid news that sent shivers down the fourth pillar of democracy but it seldom becomes a headline as a large section of the media doesn't seem eager to look within.” “During Maharashtra Assembly elections when three rival newspapers carried the same article on on the former chief minister of the state under different bylines without caring to clarify that it was an advertorial, it was clear that something was wrong” says Umesh Agarwal. The film also questions the ownership of the media where many news channels are owned by political parties and political families. Treaties struck between media houses and corporate empires are another aspect th...