Eenadu’s Mistake, Sakshi Highlights

Eenadu, like any other media house, may have its priorities, favouritism and biases. But keep these aside. As a media house, it has a great credibility in terms of delivering facts. Within media fraternity too, Eenadu has reliability due to its extensive fact checking. But not all days are one. Mistakes do happen.

One such is Eenadu’s report on TDP leader Pattabhi Ram’s arrest in Gannavaram and alleged report of using third-degree treatment against him by police. The newspaper published the pictures of Pattabhi’s injuries on body as supportive and validating proofs for the story. This is when a goof-up took place. Apart from a picture of alleged injuries on Pattabhi’s hands, the newspaper erroneously published an old picture of Pattabhi’s injuries on his legs that was during his previous arrest. This was caught by Eenadu’s arch rival Sakshi.

Sakshi published a top banner story in its newspaper against Eenadu with headline ‘Eenadu Kottu Katha’ and called it a libellous report. That’s not all. Sakshi went onto target Eenadu by using harshest words and language. Pro-YSRCP journalists Kommineni Srinivasarao and Devulapalli Amar have given bites against Eenadu story. But the fact remains that Eenadu has immediately admitted the mistake done by its staff and gave clarification in its paper and news channel.

The people who oppose Jagan and Sakshi says, Sakshi too in the past did several such blunders in its newspaper stories. However, Sakshi had never given any clarifications or rejoinders. After YS Viveka’s brutal murder, Sakshi published banner story by reporting it as a Heart Attack initially. After it was revealed as a murder, Sakshi used huge graphics showcasing Chandrababu Naidu with a knife and wrote with headline “Narasura Raktha Charitra’. Yet, Sakshi has never gave any clarifications on these stories later which are proved to be false in public domain as the CBI investigating this high-profile murder case.

Amidst all this, many neutral people are opining that Sakshi is crossing its limit in targeting Eenadu. Already, Eenadu took action on its staff who is responsible for the mistake as it went into print without checking that the picture was a file photo.