'Litter'-ature in a Hurry...

This is a Times of India Online classic. Please forward this to those who, when cornered, quote the saying journalism is literature in a hurry to escape public wrath (Yes, that is what a guy responded when someone criticised a TOI story).

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Here goes the fantastic reportage.

Is this an English Newspaper?

After some time... Times of India Online again... Am I missing something? Is this a new trend in grammar?

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Need I say more...? I think everything is self-explanatory here.

A Case of Cut and Paste

Sorry for this Times bashing again, but can't help it. Here is another fresh one from Times of India Mumbai edition..

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See how they have carelessly put one paragraph in between the story. I remember a cartoon on our old Kerala University Journalism department's wall, depicting an old newspaper office saying... "Who reads the second para anyway?" I think TOI is taking it far too seriously.

Far from being Professional

Another reason why I love Times News Network (TNN). This is about a finding that the Swine Flu was much more lethal than we thought. And the mistake is right on top...in the headline.

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The headline says Swine Flu Far From Lethal, which means it is Not Lethal, or there is still some way to go before it can be called lethal. Published on 26 June, 2012.

Careless to the Core...

Here's after a long time... Times of India has done it again. This is regarding the Rajya Sabha nomination for Sachin Tendulkar and the comments from people.  I doubt if there is an editor for TOI online.

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See the repeated paragraphs. And the same comment has been attributed to two people (see the green lines). Published on 27 April, 2012.

Off the Target

Here is one blooper from Hindustan Times online. This is about the anti-ship version of the Brahmos cruise missile. Most probably, the poor Sub, who was not conversant with defence or missiles understood it as an anti-aircraft 'carrier' missile as against 'anti-'aircraft carrier.

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For the uninitiated, an anti-aircraft missile is fired at an aircraft (also known as surface-to-air missile or air-defence missile), while an aircraft carrier is a ship and hence an anti-aircraft carrier missile is essentially an anti-ship missile (AShM), fired at ships. Published on 31 March, 2012.

Need a Sub Editor?

Another news story that appeared in Times of India online edition. See the markings.

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This is about a mishap that occurred in Bangalore. Published on 30th March, 2012.

Laziness at its Best

Times of India online has done it again. This story is about Pakistan Prime Mister Yusuf Raza Gilani's statement. It is evident that the reporter or the one who posted this report online took an earlier template and modified it instead of creating a new post. It is like finding a piece of meat in the vegetarian meal you ordered.

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Please see the red rectangle. Wondering how Jindal appeared suddenly between Gilani and Obama. Published on 26th March, 2012.

Weapon for Suicide Squad?

This one is from Zee News online for a change. This is about the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launching system and the rockets used by the Indian Army. If the report is to be believed, it can only be used by a suicide squad of the Indian Army.

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Please see the marked words. The report, published on 20th March, 2012, says that the Pinaka has a striking range of 40km and can bring devastation around 500km of the target area. Hilarious indeed...

A Case of Withheld Identity...

Here is another one from The Times of India online. TOI guys are experts in doing this it seems. Acting as the true representatives of the fourth estate, they withhold names of victims and culprits in all cases, but leave clues in the story that does not require a detective's senses to sniff out. Even I am caught between the ethics of putting this 'revealing' goof-up up for the public, but this is a classic case of it...

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Please see the red underlined words. The paper, published on 15th of March, 2012, clearly says that the names are withheld (to protect identities). But they have mentioned that the person is the Principal of St Elias High School in Khar (west). They further go on to suggest that the principal is a lady. 

TOI rocks...

  

All for the Hits...

Here is the gem of a headline from The Times of India online. The headline says it all. I fail to understand what this "Maid to Order" thing is on this particular story. It seems like the reporter has been keeping these phrases ready, waiting for something to happen with a maid.

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