Hacker News Reader

Comment by snigdha | Hacker News Reader

Hi — can you tell me more — what would add more focus to this site for you?

Our mission is to tell untold South Asian stories, not just positive or feel-good ones. Some of what we write actually challenge existing theories, for example: is Netflix actually changing storytelling in India? Did Bohemian Rhapsody tell Freddie Mercury's story well? What does Hari Kondabolu have to say about a post-Apu world?

We're not selling our specific views of South Asia but rather soliciting stories from our writers and audience and sharing multi-faceted views. We welcome stories from all political views and walks of life. We started with a paywall to be able to pay our journalists well.

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India has a very vibrant media industry. I might say that Indian media is perhaps the most liberal and open media, in the world. For example, there are more than five, 24x7 TV news channels in Tamil language alone. Most of the news that I see in English langauge outside of India, is mostly feel good or negative. But both do not represent the reality.

Having said that, if you do anything for money, it is quite easy to become corrupt. Take google for example, they used to say things such as "don't be evil" etc. But, since they are a for profit business, it is just pure talk.

The point is, knowledge and health cannot be and should not be offered for the exchange of money. if you truly believe in your mission, keep the good work and request people to donate. If your work is really good, you will never have trouble with your expenses.

I think it’s hard to actually pay journalists well and run a business predictably when we just hope people will donate though I do think the membership puzzle project is doing good work and a few businesses have made this work. This is definitely a model for us to consider!

The people who pay us now do believe we’re doing good work. I have been paying for books and health since I have been little and I do think both allow me to support great writers and health practitioners to be better at what they do. That said I do believe everyone should have a right to access information and health and one day we’ll be able to accommodate that business model. Right now all our revenue goes directly to our journalists.

All media houses have great intention in the beginning. But the moment money enters, corruption also enters. Today we can confidently say that none of the media is neutral or fair. Everyone is working for someone else, indirectly become propaganda machines.

There are two ways you can avoid that.

1) keep the media 100% free. Only get money from individual charities. And publish who gives the money.

2) if you want run a for profit org, publish all finances such as who is sponsoring what articles. At least the reader will know the motivation behind it.

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