Nepal Earthquake: #GoHomeIndianMedia Trends on Twitter


KATHMANDU, MAY 3: On May 3rd every year, World Press Freedom Day is celebrated globally in order to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press. But this year in Nepal, the day is being celebrated to actually remind the press about their freedom and more importantly their responsibilities.

Indian mainstream media, especially TV news channels, is hardly known for nuances, and they appear to miss it even during tragedies. Media coverage of 2008 Mumbai Terror Attacks is the biggest example of their insensitive, irresponsible, and sensationalist reporting, which made a lot of people take to social media to register their protest.

And it seems, Indian media has not learnt its lessons ever since. Now they have been able to irritate and anger even non-Indians.
Hundreds of India media personnel are currently in various parts of Nepal to cover the stories after the massive earthquake hit the Himalayan nation last Saturday. However the Nepalese people don’t look very satisfied by their work and reporting styles here. On Sunday, many Nepalese Twitter users started hashtag #GoHomeIndianMedia to protest against such brand of reporting. Not only in Nepal, but this hashtag trended even in India and abroad.
From their tweets, it was obvious that the anger was against the sensationalist approach by media, and not against India. Apart from insensitive questions asked to the injured and people who have lost their family about how do they feel and sensationalist reporting, some users claimed that Indian media even ended up blocking relief operations and rescue work.

Take a look at some of the tweets below and do comment your take on it.

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Neeraj Pun (NEO)

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