Somewhat to my own surprise, I realised that Media Buddhi is close to completing two years. So as 2021 winds down, here’s looking back at some of the most appreciated articles and videos. While I did compile most of the following on the basis of views, shares, subscriptions and comments, a couple are here because they are my favourites.
1. When Good People Are Divided By Politics and Religion
While seeking to understand the nature of polarisation, I came across the brilliant metaphor of ‘taste receptors of morality’ in the work of psychologist Jonathan Haidt. If everyone reads his work, there will be no more polarisation. Or so I think. This piece summarises his ideas.
2. Are You Liberal Or Conservative? Chances are, you’re both.
This piece was sparked off by a joke I heard during Amit Varma’s podcast interview with noted academic, thinker, and public intellectual Pratap Bhanu Mehta. During that conversation Mehta quoted an old joke, “When it comes to our own individual rights, we are all liberals.”
This became the opening line/organising principle for the piece. Read it here.
3. Six Characteristics Of Propaganda
What is propaganda? How is it different from advertising? How can one tell the difference between propaganda, advertising, opinion and news? I tackled these questions and more in a series of pieces here on Media Buddhi, and once the ideas had settled in my head, I make a series of videos. Here’s the one on propaganda. Watch from 01:44 if you want to get straight to the six characteristics of propaganda.
Here’s an earlier piece on propaganda, opinion and news in which I analysed a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.
4. What 'Big Tech' Owes Us. And Why.
What is the price we pay for ‘free’ technology services like email, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and so on? And how have they been used to rip apart our social fabric? This piece takes a wide-angled lens view of the problem.
5. How Politicians Manipulate Us
I wrote a series of pieces on how we react to politics and politicians. This one looked at gaslighting in politics. The reaction to this piece, and others, made me realise that there’s a need for a ‘media and political dictionary’, which is a new project here at Media Buddhi.
6. What about Scroll, The Quint, The Wire and The News Minute?
When a friend asked me why several digital websites are ‘left’ and ‘biased’, I felt I had to correct the record. The result was this piece (spoiler alert: these websites are neither ‘left’ nor ‘biased’). It has been, by far, the most popular article on Media Buddhi.
7. What Sort Of Journalist Are You? (And What Sort Do We Need?)
I took a fresh look at some fairly obvious questions and found some not-so-obvious answers. Such as: What really is a journalist’s job? And why do we need journalists anyway?
8. Revisiting Notions Of Masculinity On Father's Day
What is Media Buddhi about? To me, it is about learning to think. So everything that comes under this definition is, to me, fair game. Including gender, notions of masculinity and being a parent.
So there you have it. Eight pieces that represent some of the range and depth of Media Buddhi. I’ll be taking next Sunday off, but expect a piece on 9th January from the world of films.
Signing off for 2021. From me and the team at BOOM, we wish you a very happy 2022.