大象传媒

You guys do a great job over all in allowing the world to understand that India is knocking on its door. As a whole India is indeed a strong force, but one can see it is weakened by the great disparity between rich and poor.

In its reporting on India, the 大象传媒 sometimes tackles a specific issue and interviews Indians on their perspectives, but I see that mostly these perspectives are from educated middle class people, and it paints a rosy picture.

In another article for another issue, 大象传媒 interviews mostly the poor and underpriveleged and deprecates the society.

I would like to see a whole picture for every issue and every article, where all kinds of people who are affected by the issue are interviewed.

I am an Indian who has lived in London for some years. I have enjoyed the very high quality of thought provoking documentries and history-based programs on the 大象传媒 TV immensly. That is one thing I miss a lot on Indian television in spite of the recent surge in channels in India. I am sure the Indian audience is hungry for serious programs and that would be a great void 大象传媒 could help fill with its experience and expertise in the field, perhaps in partnership with the Doordarshan channels in India.

I am living in Ireland for 15 months. I visit bbc website and watch news (TV)regularly(3 to 4 times per day). I am very much impressed with the 大象传媒. I felt that bbc services are very reliable and most of the time they are unbiased. One thing that i like very much is their basic ethical values. I feel bbc has a very big role to play in India. Even though there are many news channels/papers in India most of them are relatively younger, for them bbc services can be a benchmark.

I am a regular visitor to 大象传媒 News website for last 5 years. I am impressed by its integrity in reporting. It also helps that since I am residing in North America and there is little coverage of South Asia in this region.

Sometimes, I do subscribe to Newspapers such as India Abroad and Gujarat Samachar. Coverage they provide is good that it includes news about South Asian Community in North America too. However, some of news from India is in too much detail, that I don't have time to go into.

Michigan, USA

What 大象传媒 provides and others dont, is the western perspective of things in India. With so much Indian media around an average Indian, at times we do feel that we get innundated with self flagellation or rhetoric and then, logging on to 大象传媒 provides us the view from outside. However, I believe that 大象传媒 as a corporation should do more by making deeper inroads into India/South Asia, which is already a huge market for it. It should setup news channels for South Asia exclusively, or even in local languages, either alone or in partnership with a local group, where needed by law ( as in the case of India) and go the way that CNN seems to be going, if it wants to remain relavent to this region in the long term. With all its experience, 大象传媒 has a lot to offer in terms of investigative journalism and indepth analysis to the Indian public, which inspite of the huge quantity of local media, is in short supply.

Steve,

Though you鈥檙e perfectly right about the mushrooming of the electronic and print media in India, not all of them could match the time-tested authenticity of the 大象传媒 by any stretch of the imagination. Most of us still wait for the confirmation of any breaking news from the 大象传媒 before accepting its validity. On the other side, as an Indian, I鈥檓 a bit surprised to see many Indians donning the role of journalists for this website. Though we鈥檙e living on the 21st century flat world, I would still like to see more British journalists covering the reports from India even if they鈥檝e to work from there.

I just read your editorial about the role of 大象传媒 in India...

I am an Indian living in US and personally, I find 大象传媒 to be the most reliable source of news about the country. Its just a non-biased report of what is happening back home.

My parents, who are in India, use 大象传媒 to find out about happenings in US.

I grew up in the US in the 70s, a child with mixed Irish and Italian heritage. Though it was hard to get 大象传媒 on AM band, I used to listen to my Dad's world radio and was a faithful listener of the 大象传媒 for years (and still am, though I now tend to watch 大象传媒 America).

You will probably wonder as to why is an American participating in this discussion. Well, the 大象传媒 opened my eyes to a rich and vibrant country, a giant democracy at a very young age. Not only did I develop an avid interest in India, but also converted to Sikhism, so deep was my awe of India, a country that is usually ignored or dismissed in US media, even now. For the past decade, hardly a year has gone by without my visiting India at least once, often twice.

However, over the years, I have noticed a shift in the tone of 大象传媒's coverage of India. Maybe it has something to do with Mark Tully's exit, maybe it is a part of a bigger change at the 大象传媒. The 大象传媒, perhaps in an initially well-intentioned attempt to create a balance in its coverage of India vs any of its neighbors, has become, perhaps unwittingly, a naysayer on India. In everything that the 大象传媒 reports on India, and most of these stories are indubitably positive these days, there is a caveat, some half-hearted attempt to put India down. I do not see any such wierd reporting by 大象传媒 on any other country that I have an interest in.

I have travelled extensively in India, often hiking across some of the poorest parts of the country, so I am no stranger to some of the worst troubles that still mire India. However, the 大象传媒 should realize that its first duty is to truth, not some artificially created balance in its coverage vis a vis China or Pakistan (perhaps the worst case of 大象传媒 emphasizing balance over accuracy).

I have no idea what redeeming values does the 大象传媒 see its coverage of Pakistan, which is a failed state by almost all measures. Maybe it is due to the large, vocal and periodically violent Pakistani community in Britain, maybe it is some part of an unwritten orthodoxy of the European media that in a dispute between a Muslim and a non-Muslim state, thou shalt not speak ill of the Muslim state, even when richly deserved. I do not know. I just see a slant, and it makes me question things.

For instance, when the 大象传媒 reports on the Kashmir issue, or shows maps of northern Indian, it takes pains to somehow separate off Indian Kashmir from India (that it does the same for Pakistan has no relevance to this discussion). I have read extensively about Indian history, both from Indian and Western sources, and it is immediately apparent, that the will of the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Kashmir was to join India (which according to the laws in force at the time - was the legal choice of Kashmir). Pakistan invaded and annexed a part of Kashmir that has seen genocide (in what it calls Northern Territories) massive influx of non-Kashmiris and demographic conquest. The Indians have, by contrast, studiously avoided any such thing, though population pressures in India are far greater.

There have been 11 elections in Indian Kashmir, while there have been no real ones in Pakistani Kashmir. To create a moral or factual equivalency over Indian and Pakistani claims to Kashmir is to fly in face of all journalistic ethics.

Further, this attitude does not confine itself to the reporting of the region - it does spill over in the domestic reporting. Whenever there are racial troubles in the UK, like Leeds a few years ago (I was in London at the time), there is a facile attempt to label it as troubles between "White nationalists" and "Asian youths". By any measure, the Asian community in the UK is fractured along multiple lines, but it is an open secret that the only Asian participants in these riots are Muslims, especially those from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Why the attempt to hide them behind the an imaginary monolith known as "Asian" and why the libel against millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, etc. of Indian origin, who have absolutely nothing to do with these periodical bouts of blood letting.

If I were to follow the 大象传媒's modus operandi in reporting on Britain, I would probably pen a report describing the UK as a former colonial power and resurgent economy that is riven at home with racial and religious divides between majority whites and Muslims of mostly Asian origin. I would go further and describe the UK as a country with only partial press freedoms, where it is required to slander the peaceful non-Muslim Asians in order to maintain some patina of apparent religious harmony.

But then, I am not a 大象传媒 reporter, just a long suffering 大象传媒 listener for close to 30 years.

It is perhaps a vain hope but I do wish with that 大象传媒 will return to its roots and put truth before artificial even-handedness when reporting on that region.

Indian media sometimes appear to be over eager (even jingoistic at times) in portraying our successes. Even insignificant things are regularly overhyped, there is an overall lack of maturity.
大象传媒 on the other hand comes across as a very mature and unbiased source of news. One whose integrity cannot be doubted. 大象传媒 is perhaps the most widely accessed source for international news and is therefore able to provide feedback from readers all over the world on issue which may be local to India. I dont think there is any other media house which has such extensive international coverage, not even close!
Also, the most irritating thing about the indian news websites is the absolutely poor quality of their websites. Unwanted, inane pop-ups and flashing commercials are a big turn off.

I'm an Indian student (PhD) in the United States and regularly read 大象传媒 News. I found 大象传媒 news to be relevant, unbiased and insightful while I was in India and even more so after I came to the US.

Please keep up the good work. 大象传媒 is one of the few organizations which still maintains good journalistic standards.

Steve, a large number of Indians do not trust the 大象传媒. That may come as a surprise to you. When we read 大象传媒 news, we always find that the negatives about India are highlighted and the positives mentioned in the fine print. Like the other day when 大象传媒 conducted a poll, to an Indian there were some big news like - 70% of citizens are proud to be Indian, economic progress. The 大象传媒 headline however, selected the poll numbers about the caste system that people think may hold India back.

Now, did racism in the US/ Britain (West in general) hold the west back? Then why highligh that and not the positives?

Indians believe that 大象传媒's South Asia desk is controlled by people inimical to India and her progress.

Does the 大象传媒 ever report the true facts about say Kashmir? Like the fact that Lord Mountbatten authorized the use of force against Pakistani forces in 1947 to protect a territory that had aceded to India 'by his rules'? OR that subsequent UN resolutions required that the entire territory would be ceded to India by 1950 and India would then hold a plebscite in Kashmir? Or that Lord Mountabatten is on record as saying that he had total authority from the Government of India to solve the Kashmir issue and it was Pakistan that was complicating matters?

The West has used Pakistan all these years and one day a 'free Pakistan' will rise and shake of this yoke of slavery and sycophancy and hold the West accountable. By aiding in the spread of misinformation, the 大象传媒 does a grave injustice to Indians and to the poor Pakistanis who have never been given the chance to shape their destiny.

To have a presence in India, 大象传媒 News would have to present the truth about India and Pakistan.

I'm an Indian student (PhD) in the United States and regularly read 大象传媒 News. I found 大象传媒 news to be relevant and insightful while I was in India and even more so after I came to the US.

Please keep up the good work. 大象传媒 is one of the few organizations which still maintains good journalistic standards.

When it comes to domestic news in India i think 大象传媒 doesn't have much potential, but it has huge potential for people who are intersted in international news.In international news the 大象传媒 coverage is wide variety and worth watching.In international news 大象传媒 certainly has huge potential in india, because with INDIA RISING more and more people are going to be intersted in what's going in the world, and 大象传媒 does a very good job of showing that.

I think 大象传媒 is a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to keep up with whats going on around the world. I live in the US now, but was brought up in India and 大象传媒 has always been around. Its still the first website that I go to when I get on the internet. Yes, even before my email!I like 大象传媒's South Asia site because it lets me keep up with whats going on in India and the rest of S. Asia without having to read in detail about the latest exploits of Bollywood stars or the cricketers or something just as superfluous. Keep up the good work!

The first thing the 大象传媒 should do when discussing the relative size of India's economy (or that of any other developing nation for that matter) is to present it in alternative versions. Valuation at contemporary currency exchange rates tends to overstate the size of the economies of developed nations with 'stronger' currencies. That is why the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and other international organizations value developing economies using purchasing power parity (PPP) which, as the name suggests, provides a much more realistic indicator of the relative purchasing power (and therefore market size)of a developing nation (which tends to have a low relative cost of living). By this measure (PPP), India's economy is valued at about $4 trillion and already far larger than Britain's. British corporations should understand this as they strategize about their future involvement in India. Otherwise, they risk being left behind as U.S, Japanese and European companies begin to actively invest in India. The 大象传媒 needs to make this point clear.

Steve,

大象传媒 World Service has a special place in Indian media landscape. I, personally, don鈥檛 think 大象传媒 as foreign media outlet anymore. It鈥檚 as Indian as Indians come. Its in-depth wide coverage and quality are standards setting. Having said that, 大象传媒 sometimes shows India in more positive light than it is in. Sometimes, it focuses too much on issues which are no more the burning issues, for example the Indian Caste system.

Having listened and watched the 大象传媒 for 25 years, I can say with some confidence that the 大象传媒 World Service is better than any other media outlet, Indian or International. Keep up the good work.

Sunil

What 大象传媒 can bring to an Indian audience is not just a global perspective but also an unbiased view of their own country. I am an Indian living in the US and I look to the 大象传媒 to give me news that matters from India. 大象传媒 stands apart because it is news without nonsense. We are in spite and because of the deluge of new channels given hype, fluff and entertainment for news. 大象传媒 gives news without cutting corners. That is what the Indian audience will receive from your channel and that is what we will be grateful for.

I am Indian immigrant to the US, and have been here for nearly 25 years. I have always trusted the 大象传媒 to provide a fair and Balanced coverage, which the main stream media in the US is unable to deliver. Before the internet, I used to listen to 大象传媒 news on a short wave radio, which I purchased at a duty free store in Singapore, as SW radios were and are still not easily available in the US. I thnk it will be very hard for any company to come up to the standards of THE 大象传媒.

Yes, I agree with you that 大象传媒 and international news channels provide different perspective and large coverage. Another important fact is that 大象传媒 can be trusted not be influenced by any particular political party or have any sly religious affiliations and therefore, it can be trusted to provide unbiased and true coverage.

I recently watched 2 大象传媒 documentaries regarding India (Being Indian and another one about water coservation in Gujarat). I think that the 大象传媒 is a very professional, disciplined and most importantly objective news network. Certainly not only can many new Indian channels learn from the 大象传媒, the 大象传媒 itself can become a major player in news broadcasting within India.

In the era of Fox News and company, most people have come to believe that there is no such thing as "reporting", leave alone fair and balanced.

Given that backrgound, the 大象传媒 tries to do a fair job of its coverage of India, but often I see preconceived western (particularly british colonial) ideas of India surface in the reporting. Even in this blog, you mention "volatile region". That might be your idea of where India is, but it is certainly not shared by the majority of your Indian readers.

Also, that's a huge turnoff. Unlike the Indians who were born under and lived under British rule, the current generation of Indians see India as a global power and one that demands your respect.

So, if you want to reach these readers in any meaningful way, don't patronize them, and also shed the colonial sunglasses.

Growth in quantity does not always mean quality. The explosion of news channels and print media in India has been phenomenal but even a cursory glance at their coverage exposes the sheer sensationalism involved in news reporting. Too often the media simply reflects the public mood of the audience it targets. What is severely lacking is an independent, unbiased and critical view of things. This is where 大象传媒 coverage has excelled for many decades. Having a globally entrenched network, it is able to present a perspective which benefits from a worldview which few broadcasters can boast of. Do keep up the excellent work on your South Asia coverage - all the best!

I read the South Asia pages of 大象传媒 News regularly and I find the reporting much better than many sites for a variety of reasons. Among them are, less ads on the pages, pop-ups, ethno centric coverage and such. One complaint may be that the pages are not refreshed often enough. Also it would be interesting to see how GB is responding to changes in South Asia both economically and culturally.

I am a frequent reader of bbc.com and its South Asian coverage. I feel that most of the media groups in India (the Times of India group, for example, operates the Times of India and Economic Times newspapers, as well as the indiatimes.com website) do provide news and coverage that is on par with other international news websites, although they do offer more insight and analysis from an Indian perspective.

Let me start off saying that the homepage on my browser is 大象传媒. I am not exactly what you would call the new young breed of workers who power the BPO boom. I am someone who used to go to sleep with "Newsdesk" on 大象传媒 Radio. I cultivated my English pronunciation through it. I am one of the generation who grew up on Radio and alongwith Television.
Today, the tube is the medium of information and fast being overtaken by the internet. Perhaps I will see the day when it becomes the medium of entertainment too. The 大象传媒 is important for people like me - middle class, educated people. I remember the night in my last year at College when the news of Rajiv Gandhi's death broke - on the 大象传媒.
Today, 大象传媒 among the young in India is seen as a more "traditional" channel. The glitz of Americanised channels are more popular. I prefer the 大象传媒 as I have come to trust it and its considerable independence.
If this trust has to be carried on to the present crop of young persons, I would say that 大象传媒 has to expand into a bit more entertainment/infotainment programmes. Perhaps even start beaming a couple of your UK channels over? I am sure you will find revenue from the expanding Indian industrial and commercial fields...

As an Indian who lives overseas, the 大象传媒 is a great source of internationally-important news from South Asia, but I have found myself trolling through the web sites of Indian newspapers for in-depth coverage and local stories.

Perhaps the 大象传媒 should expand its local bureaux in India to capture and report stories more timely. I've noticed that the op-ed-type articles frequently cover a lot of ground, but regular stories are sometimes too short and elemental to the point of not offering new analysis.

The 大象传媒 does have an advantage in other areas: it has maintained a unique style of writing that makes its reporting consistent and easy-to-follow. Plus, I've never had the need to fact-check information that I find on the 大象传媒 news website.

I'm sorry Steve - this response isn't coming from one of your target demographic!....Pete (UK)

"India rising" ?

Into what?

An energy-strapped, raw-materials-plundered First World, perhaps? With 800 million more wannabes wanting to live the 20th century western dream! The teetering premise that another superconsumer nation of such 'upwardly mobile' aspirations and magnitude can thrive in perpetuity is frightening. This is no criticism of the competitive desires of any nation on what remains of the worlds dwindling natural bounty, but rather an ironic prediction of extinction of the last resources after just over one century of super-consuming orgy and plunder! :-/

I've digressed again!: The 大象传媒 will remain a valuable international news source - for as long as its agenda is squeaky-clean and free from international coloration! I'm sure the Indian News media engine will rival the 大象传媒's traditional role and feel sure that the historical rank will change as independence and pride in national achievement eclipse the legacy values. It's business! But positive growth in all the world markets will track the resource levels we have left. Oops! Back on my hobbyhorse!

Hello,
I read the South Asia coverage regularly, but mostly not for the news. I get my news from Indian news papers such as Times of India, Indian Express and Hindustan Times. I mostly read 大象传媒 to get your coverage of the news as well as know know your opinion and most of the time I feel that it does not represent the actual ground to earth reporting but quite superficial. still I can not stop myself at least to have a glance on this page daily.
Mrignayani

I am a HUGE fan of your news network,be it online or offline.Must say that your network provides the best of everything one wishes to see in a news channel.The thing that I like the best about your channel is the dignified manner in which you present all the programs.
With India now occupying a more prominent role in the international arena,people here now want to know what's happening in the outside world.大象传媒 can utilize this desire by focusing a little bit more on the sub-continent,not actually in terms of news coverage but in terms of news analysis.By adding just few lines about how a major news event will effect India(or the subcontinent) will make a huge difference.Airing few more opinions from the subcontinent on issues can also be done.
Indian news channels are now pushing hard to gather news from outside India but at present they are no where close to where you are positioned in this field.Just few modifications to reach out reach out to the public and you rule.

If I want to read news about India from a European perspective, I go to 大象传媒. This might be just my opinion but I find some of the news articles about India have a slight negative overtones. Like there is always a mention about poverty, corruption or wars with Pakistan/China even in the most positive of the news articles. Even the so called 'developed countries have their own problems. I fail to see the rationale in highlighting India's problems.

大象传媒 news has fair and true news. Its opinions are not biased. Generally Indian papers are very pro-India. Indians sitting in foreign countries generally want to hear true facts, not "masala" news. 大象传媒 can give more coverage in its website for India. Comparatively it has very little news in relation to India.

I would suggest 大象传媒 should increase its presence in the Indian market especially the rural areas. I still remember listening 大象传媒 on radio everynight as a young kid back in late 80s and everyone in my village was kind of using it as a test of truth and gold standard. Even though there is a huge lot of news channels and papers that are coming these days in India, they really lack the credibility and unbiased nature of reporting that 大象传媒 provides on wide-ranging subjects. Even today, if I find a news on NDTV, CNN-IBN or anything about India, I make sure to go to 大象传媒 for a fact check. I think 大象传媒 should not lose this opportunity to expand its presence in Indian market, obviously without compromising on the quality like most the news channels operating these days in India. Now I live in US and most of my friends that I know still keep complaining about the lack of quality of news. The expansion of 大象传媒 in India would be a welcome addition.

I do follow the south asia news coverage from the international broadcasters and from local media. One good advantage for international media is they report the news from a neutral point of view, where as most of the local news agencies are a bit biased. I feel 大象传媒 shouldn't change its course for the India, rather stay on their path which is good already.

India raising,
Yes ofcourse in poverty, corruption.
A revolution will surely make india a Good rasing nation. Strong rules and laws should be enforced. The recent growth is a good sign but at the same time one should not forget the Evils eyes on it.

As a regular 大象传媒 viewer i appreciate its coverage over India. Still many areas can be covered that will benefit the millions of common man. India needs lots attention on the day to day issues like pollution, Infrastructure and ofcourse water.
By which you can win the millions of hearts and souls.
More hours can be alloted for news based on India on a day, atleast for Indian coverage.

I have grown up as a child in India listening to 大象传媒 radio (usually cricket games), and then when living in the UK, and now in the US, as an avid watcher of both the 大象传媒 UK news and now the World Service. I also read your website every day...as I do several of the reputable Indian newspapers. That should be the answer in itself -- I find the Indian news organizations as reputable as the 大象传媒, and I think you will rightly find an appropriate place for Indian consumers. You will never be the only news source for the educated Indian, but one of the trusted few. Keep doing what keeps you differentiated -- an extensive global coverage that more and more Indians are realizing is important to their livelihood.

The main thing that the 大象传媒 offers in south asia and around the world is nonpartisan news , information without corporate or political censorship( i'm sure it does happen, but tooo a much lower extent than what the others offer).
This "Integrity" is what puts the 大象传媒 a notch above its rivals and gives it that respected name.
oh and really good grammer and writers, it really is a pleasure reading or listening to a bit of an international persepective on the english language.
cheers

I agree completely with the last comment. 大象传媒 news has been a part of our family time for more years than i can remember. It is probably one of the few un biased fact based news service, which doesnt only focus on one region. It gives a larger picture of the world around us, and allows everyone to be fully informed about current affairs. There is no chance of 大象传媒 ever failing in India, no matter what competition arises.
News services will not be the same if 大象传媒 isnt operating in such a place, especially India, as with each passing moment, news channels seem in India are seeming to become like the ones in the United States...Too involved in domestic issues, and less in what the international world is going through everyday.
I agree with sunil whole-heartedly in saying, Good work, keep it up.

The main thing that the 大象传媒 offers in south asia and around the world is, nonpartisan news . information without corporate or political censorship( i'm sure it does happen, but it isnt as transperant or 'in your face' compared to others).
This "Integrity" and a truly "international" news coverage is what puts the 大象传媒 wolrd service, a notch above its rivals and gives it that respected name.
oh and really good grammer and professional writing skills, it really is a pleasure reading or listening to a bit of 'international english' .
cheers

Indians have always viewed the 大象传媒 as the standard-bearer for fair and balanced reporting/commentary. This is something few, if any, of the newer channels can lay claim to. With India's power and clout rising in almost all spheres, guaging the rest of the world's attitude towards India will be important to many young Indians who have thus far been accustomed to India not being accorded too much respect on the international stage. If the 大象传媒 can deliver this perspective during this growing phase when Indians coming to terms with their economic and political might, it will certainly set itself apart from the competition.

I love reading the 大象传媒! I am an Indian living in America and am fairly disappointed by the American media's coverage of anything which is not the Middle East or the United States. I also like the 大象传媒's balanced potrayal of South Asia in particular and the world in general. I only have one request i.e. to remove columns of people like Preity Zinta from the website. She never has anything relevant or important to say and I do not see how she contributes in any meaningful way to an Indian perspective.

Steve,

Completely agree with Sunil's post.

Though we have so many media outlets in India, your coverage seems more balanced and reliable.

I live in United States and am always puzzled by lack of a 24hour 大象传媒 new channel on TV here!? I consider your news coverage much better than any of the media here too.

Only thing I would like to see is a bit more comprehensive coverage of India (including the local issues) on your website, if possible.

Anshu

The 大象传媒 is definitely the most trusted source in India for "World" News, not so much for "Indian" news. And I think most international channels make a mistake in assuming that they must localize their coverage. Not so! That's what local Indian news outlets are for and just like a foreign channel cannot hold a candle to the local channels in covering Indian news, neither can the local channels even begin to compete with the 大象传媒 for international news.

If the 大象传媒 sticks to covering international news as professionally as it has done all these years and without the crass commercialization of news apparent in other channels, it will remain at the top in India. You are right in saying that the beeb is a trusted name for many!

Hi Steve,
I am a regular reader of 大象传媒 online and also the South Asia section. I think you and your team have done a good job of covering India and South Asia, definitely better than your other International competition, especially the US media. 大象传媒 is definitely a trusted media site. However, I truly think there is an opportunity for you to expand your coverage and truely become "the India experts", especially at a time when India and Indian companies are coming out on the global stage and flexing their muscles. I think, inspite of the coverage you provide, there is a dearth of in-depth coverage of events related to India and Indian business.
Dilip

Steve,
I'm an Indian who has grown up listening to 大象传媒 Radio, and then graduated to 大象传媒 World/News with the advent of satellite TV. I still use 大象传媒 as my #1 source of news (hey, I'm here, aren't I!).

My 2nd source of news (especially India-specific) is NDTV which gives good local news coverage.

As you've rightly stated, 大象传媒 is a trusted source to me. CNN ranks near the bottom. On the paper front, it is The Hindu.

Regards,
Arun

I do not expect this comment to be posted by 大象传媒 because 大象传媒 is a biased media outlet. It is anti-India, anti-US, pro-Muslim(perhaps because the son of its chief became a Muslim), afraid of the truth being published, and is too politically correct.

99.9% of Iraq is peaceful and prospering because of US intervention and yet 大象传媒 focuses on Baghdad.

Almost a million Hindus have been ethically cleansed from Kashmir, an integral part of India and yet 大象传媒 refuses to write the story of this ethnic cleansing by Muslims, insisting on calling Kashmir India-Administered Kashmir. Kashmir is an integral part of India and became part of India according to the rules set at partition.

Is London with its majority non-whites a UK administered state?

How about writing about the 3 million Hindus who were massacred in East Pakistan by Muslims?

Steve-

For starters, 大象传媒 provides an outsiders perspective to news in India, which is very useful when you live in a media environment that is fast approaching saturation. However my only complaint is that in a crunch situation political correctness seems to triumph over opinion in the reportage of certain contentious issues.

To us Indians living in India, it just appears to be a reflection of the western 'OMG how can these guys be so bad and so good at the same time!!' attitude, we find that slightly patronizing to say the least.

-Prashanth

I am an avid reader of the South Asian section of 大象传媒 website. I also participate in the HYS debates. I find 大象传媒 to be miles ahead than any other news agency in providing us with unbiased news. I come to the 大象传媒 to get a western perspective on news events in India. Although the coverage can be patronising sometimes, I would rather read that than some overtly nationalistic and sensational news items in the Indian media. I would also urge the 大象传媒 to start a 24/7 news channel in India, maybe through a partnership with an Indian company. It would surely rival NDTV for the top spot.

大象传媒 is one of the trusted news outlet for me. I read 大象传媒 news daily online and watch its program on TV at least a few days a week. What I like about it is that it presents fairly balanced view of most of the events. I also like "Have your say" section on its website.

As per coverage of events from my motherland India is concerned, I think 大象传媒 is doing an incredible job. Almost all the articles I have read so far has a mention of the fact that India has so many poor people and that the rosy picture stated in the rest of the section of the article does not necessarily apply to majority of Indians.

大象传媒! keep up the good work!

Steve,
Objectivity is a chimera. and worst sins are committed in the name of 'balancing a report'. That said, 大象传媒 remains by and large a credible source. One can even find occasionally some interesting insights and perspectives in its features. In the burgeoning media mostly dishing out trivia, many indians do look up to bbc for some serious content. The Indian media passes the muster in its coverage of national and regional issues, it is abysmally inadequate in its coverage of international news, particularly South Asia. This explains why 大象传媒 Urdu and 大象传媒 Hindi broadcasts are popular in the subcontinent. Is it not worthwhile to include the contents of these broadcasts 大象传媒 (English) website? For, there are many who can understand these languages, but not their scripts.

I have been an avid reader of bbc as long as I can remember.
Mainly I browse through south asia section, Business and Technology and even sports - mainly cricket.
I must agree that 大象传媒 is very unbiased, professional and balanced. The news reports are transparent and there is coverage from all of south asia.
Though there are many indian websites available. Many are filled with little pop-ups and flash media screaming for attention and seem very immature. Useless articles from bollywood forms the core of the Indian websites.

大象传媒 website has a classic look. I congratulate the team for the good work and I hope to see more.

There is no other. Not in India nor elsewhere. There may be a million TV channels in India but, lets be honest, most of it is junk TV just as most channels in the US are junk. Like many, I grew up in the early seventies listening to 大象传媒 world service radio on my trusted Zenith shortwave world radio and then later on opted for that cable channel package that had 大象传媒 world TV and now visit your website everyday.

The 大象传媒 is a bit like the New York Times newspaper in the US. Castigated by many, it nevertheless is the standard bearer for all. The 大象传媒 is not always so balanced as it claims to be and its British biases do come through, but thats a small price to pay for the gravitas it brings to our perception of events around the world.

Is there a place for the 大象传媒 in India? Heck yes. Where would we go otherwise? CNN? Fox News? You have to ggive us more credit.

I listened to the India Rising program with interest. 大象传媒 does a decent job of reporting on India, but to an Indian born in the post colonial era, your colonialist bias shows through if one listens carefully to the opinions expressed in 大象传媒.

I listen to 大象传媒 because it is the only channel that comes closest to objective worldwide coverage (king among the blind) on radio in North America.

I don't believe 大象传媒 can shake this bias off on its own. This bias is after all a few hundred years old. However, if you really want to make a difference in a place like India, you need to assiduously cultivate native Indian business/media alliances that reflect the opinions, aspirations and cultural nuances of India and Indians.

The Indian media is still young but is rapidly maturing. So if you want to stay relevant, partner with one or more of Indian media companies to help 大象传媒 transform into an objective 21st century communication organization rather than the traditional colonialist pseudo-objective(from India's perspective) institution it has been during the 20th century.