Bengaluru: Popular TV news anchor Arnab Goswami, known for his combative style, laid bare some of his plans for his new venture Republic and slammed the national media for not ‘shouting’ enough while covering the recent New Year Eve molestation incident in Bengaluru.
In a chat with Deccan Chronicle he said, “Republic will be a purely content driven, independent media venture. Content creators will run and manage the show. It is basically aimed at taking the form of journalism that I have done along with the team and institutionalise it.”
“We don’t think that anybody owns this form of journalism for the people of India, and we want to break free. If yelling is required for a good cause there will be yelling, if you are shouting for a good thing, it’s alright no?” he asked politely and in good humour commented on his technique of asking questions that he is often criticized for.
“I have realized that in this country if you are not shouting, you aren’t heard. What we saw happening in Bengaluru on New Year’s Eve is not something we should be just talking against. but make a much louder shout. If you want to yell to make a difference, do it. There are people who want to be civilized and say that these things should only be a whimper; then I would say they are completely wrong,” he said.
“I was personally appalled by the so called national media that they found the story of a 43-year-old Chief Minister having a conflict with his 77-year-old uncle and 70-year-old father in Uttar Pradesh more newsworthy than Bengaluru mob molestation. I genuinely think we need a revolution.”
‘Journalism not just stating facts’
“When no political party gives us advertisements, will you support us, because I will take them down! When we walk the path of ideal journalism, when people put obstacles in our path, will you support us, because that time is coming soon,” said Arnab Goswami, in his classic style that regaled the crowd.
The former editor-in-chief of Times Now was in the city on Sunday to speak about his new venture, which he declared would be a revolution of sorts, and appealed to the youth for support him and the new channel.
Arnab was a guest speaker at the finale of the Under 25 Summit held at Jayamahal Palce over the last week. “For me journalism is not just about facts. People ask me why don’t I depend on facts alone and I tell them that if I depended on facts alone I would be Wikipedia. Journalism for me is refusing to accept anything as permanent. Challenging the authority irrespective of the cloud on the other side and refusing to accept the status quo,” he added.
He dismissed rumours of his new venture having any tie-ups with Fox News.
