Journalism Overthrows: The “Exposés” Of All Time

In a world where the media has so much power to change people's minds about politics, business, and global finance, it seems like there are some who would use this power to their own benefit. Some people have been found to be using journalists as pawns to spread false information in order to try to control public opinion for political reasons or to make money.

Bradley Birkenfeld, a former UBS executive, was one of these people. He is well-known now because he admitted that he helped many wealthy clients hide money in offshore accounts to avoid paying taxes. His actions were not only against the law, but they also showed that he didn't care about how the law protects taxpayer money. He talked to journalist James Risen about his story when he was being investigated. The journalist later wrote a book called Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation. It was about Mr. Birkenfeld's confessions and the investigation that followed.

These revelations, which led to a big investigation by American authorities, showed that Birkenfeld was not the only one who worked with offshore companies and tried to avoid paying taxes. This investigation found that almost 200,000 Americans tried to avoid paying US taxes by using companies in other countries. There were Hollywood stars, politicians, and even presidents of large companies who were involved. It was thought that because of this, over $20 billion in taxes were not paid.

A few years after the expose, James Risen was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his investigative journalism. But he has been in trouble before. In 2007, just before it came out, his book, State of War: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, was taken off the shelves of all American bookstores. It was taken down because a book by a man named Edward Jay Epstein came out. Epstein, a former reporter for the New York Times, wrote a book called Enemies Within: How the FBI Tried to Destroy the Black Panther Party. It had a lot of the same information as Risen's book, but Epstein didn't give any names. This made it look like Risen's book was a clear attempt to hurt Epstein's reputation. When asked about this, he answered, "I've always thought that when I try to get good stories, I'm doing my job. And there will be consequences if you do your job well."

In this case, other journalists, like Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, backed up Mr. Risen. In a letter to the editor, they said "The accusations against Mr. Risen are false and should be thrown out right away. The reasons given for censoring Mr. Risen's work are, at best, weak and, at worst, completely false. We didn't think the Bush administration would do anything else."

James Risen never stopped believing that journalists should be able to publish what they think is right. He was finally able to sue the DOJ and win with help from the ACLU and others. But it took him five years to do so.

James Risen says that his situation is not unique.

 

Is Secularism A Strategic Political Shield Or An Identity Maze?

 

In India, what does "Secularism" mean? Whence comes this pervasive, purportedly enunciated, pseudo “religious” acrimony?

Did the British in India create the word "secularism" to characterise their hegemony of disposition to rule? The idea that it signifies "no religion" is a common misunderstanding. The term "secularism" refers to the concept of "separation of state and religious institutions." Yes, but how much distance? While the state should not be used to promote any one religion, this does not imply that all faiths are created equal, perhaps, in the “allusion” of semantics. In reality, nations like Iran or Saudi Arabia might adopt secularism if there were no prejudice against other religions. Voila – seminal confluence? Or excessively optimistic, aren’t we?

Equal protection under the law is the first step towards this goal, and the second is unrestricted freedom of expression. Because of this, there are a number of laws in place to prevent acts of hatred. And what about the freedom to worship as one chooses? Why do some individuals feel they need to disguise their identities in public if they have the freedom to exercise that right openly? Whether that is required is a question we must answer. Is it conceivable that they are hesitant to speak out because they believe they may be prosecuted for blasphemy or iconoclasm of superficially magnified humans as deities or other acts that go counter to the views of the majority?

At the moment, "maybe" a few Indian political parties share a position: they all wish to keep religion out of politics. Again? Bummer! Plausible or not?  Do you believe that to be true? Perhaps a rhetorical strategy of political ascendancy from the distant past? They promise to protect people's right to practise whatever faith they want. They argue that the government “should” respect people's freedom of choice. One wants to hope it’s not verbal tokenism!

Nevertheless, in practise, this state of affairs exists only on paper. Yet, members of many faiths have divergent opinions and pursue their goals in life accordingly. In and of themselves, differences are not problematic; the problem arises when they fuel prejudice and violence.

When confronted with criticism, religious societies often respond negatively. They want the state to safeguard their religious freedoms. But what about the duties that fall upon them? Is there mutual respect for individual freedoms, or is there an attempt to force one's will on others? The result has been a great deal of tension between many faiths.

Considering the country's size and diversity, it's difficult for all Indians to adhere to a single faith. People may be found throughout the world who follow any number of faiths, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Many people identify themselves as atheists instead. Do you want to imply that we should give due regard to each and every one of these faiths? Isn't it sufficient to ensure that all people, regardless of faith, enjoy basic human rights?

One may certainly respect the rights of others without automatically endorsing their whole worldview. If this is the case, then why isn't secularism the norm rather than the exception? Despite expectations, secularism is not the norm. When people struggle to articulate their thoughts about their religion, they typically prefer silence. In their silence, additional questions are raised.

If the rise of religious fanatics is so alarming, why haven't more people speak out against it? Extremists often go after anyone who expresses their disapproval. In addition, those who keep quiet are seen as timid.

There are secularists out there, but they don't feel safe speaking out about it. What can be done, however, until people cease worrying about being persecuted for challenging religious beliefs? When will it be safe for individuals to talk about their faith without worrying about repercussions?

The vast majority of our country's population identifies as either Hindu or Muslim. Not everyone must adhere to Judaism or Christianity. Everyone has the freedom to practise whichever faith they believe will bring them the most joy in life. It's ironic that religion, which should bring harmony to the world, often leads to strife instead.

The topic of whether "Pluralism" is synonymous with "Secularism" is often raised.

No, not quite. The word "plurality" describes a state of having many different things. This means that pluralism is a philosophy that celebrates differences. In the United States, for instance, people of many different races and ethnicities live side by side. The variety of this civilization is a source of great pride for its inhabitants. Yet, how does this relate to debates about religious freedom? The majority of our government officials and bureaucrats have had their education in India, which has led to a swell of nationalistic pride on their part. Yet, many confuse "Hindu" with "secular," and vice versa. A lot of atheists and agnostics in India don't feel welcome because of the strong religious culture here. They're made to feel like and are treated like strangers. They don't consider themselves to be Indian, hence they can't help the nation progress.

Where do we find the solution then? Is it possible for India to become an openly secular state? If we accomplished that, how would it affect our progress in society and the economy?

Give me a moment while I offer you some illustrations.

If all Indians could practise their faiths freely, there would be less animosity against them. They would have a deep sense of national pride and be committed to making significant contributions to the development of their country.

Hindu customs and rituals date back many hundreds of years. We shouldn't let them go into history; instead, why don't we do our best to keep them alive?

The members of a multi-religious community may gain insight and insight from one another. Tolerance and mutual respect provide the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community.

The democracy in India is the youngest in the world. A person's social status, religious beliefs, or gender; are all equally protected by our constitution.

As an example for other nations, we should become completely secular. It's possible that we'll be the world's first secular country.

Now, however, the most pressing matters. We must further our own education.

The Bewildering Dynamics of Electoral Funding: Do We Have A Say?

 

The democratic principle is that ultimate power rests with the people. Their needs and desires should be prioritised by the government. It shouldn't help the lobbying companies and interest organisations that use taxpayer money to influence policy. Everyone in our country has the freedom to vote and support political candidates and parties of their choosing. When some individuals can afford to fly on private aircraft but others can't even afford the bus fare, how can there be equality of opportunity?

As a result of this inequality, a two-class society has developed in which the wealthy continue to prosper at the expense of the poor.

We need to do away with our existing voting system and switch to one based on proportional representation (PR). Through PR, we may elect representatives depending on the percentage of the popular vote they get. That is, if a candidate receives 5% of the vote, he or she will be guaranteed five seats in parliament. If someone received 40% of the vote, that person would be allocated 40% of the seats. In the same vein... Reasons why PR is a superior system, and why PR is a superior system are obvious. Under a PR system, voters choose candidates, not political parties. If there is just one election winner, the person with the most votes becomes the prime minister. If the popular vote total is too low for any contender to win, the person in second place would be elected. In this manner, everyone has an equal voice in the democratic process. More lawmakers mean more opinions being heard. Just what democracy should be about!

The majority of voters might prefer PR because it more accurately reflects their interests than the existing system.

In anybody’s opinion, PR is a fantastic concept in theory but will never work in practice since most parties in this country are unwilling to give up power. The opposite is true. They won't let go of our votes until we stop voting for them. They will state that they speak for us and ask for our undivided support. Yet, they will lose control of our democracy if people start voting in new ways. We need to mobilise the public behind candidates who will best advance our interests. Should we scrap our present electoral system in favour of PR?

Effective Modern-Day Market Research for Businesses

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a young entrepreneur seeking to start or expand his business will eventually be faced with the need for effective marketing research. While many companies rely heavily on market research reports which are available in abundance from various sources, there are some tips and tricks you can use to make sure your company gets all the information it needs without spending too much money. And the best part? These methods work just as well if you're a small startup as they do if you have an enterprise worth billions of dollars.

1. Conduct Focus Groups

Focus groups provide businesses with priceless insight into how their target customers think and feel about them. This means that focus groups allow you to find out what people really think, not merely what they say they think when asked face-to-face or by phone. Once you know this, you will be able to adjust your product line or services accordingly, leading to a better customer experience overall. The key here is to select participants carefully; you want people who fit into your target demographic, so you won't get as much useful data if you don't choose your focus group members carefully. It's also important to ask the right questions in order to extract the most valuable insights possible and to keep things informal and relaxed rather than formal and intimidating.

2. Start Online Surveys

Surveys may seem outdated and inefficient, but they work surprisingly well online, especially if you can avoid asking generic questions like "Do you like our new product?" Instead, create surveys with multiple-choice answers. You'll also want to make sure that your survey has a clear call to action at the end of it, encouraging people to take the next step.

3. Use Social Media Profiles

Using social media profiles in your marketing research is a great way to learn more about your target demographics. For example, you could look up the profile of a person who fits your target demographic and see what kinds of posts he likes and shares. Then, try posting content that is similar to what he likes, and see what kind of response you get. If you get a good response, then you can build upon that post by creating similar ones. In fact, you should be creating content specifically to target each one of your different target audiences.

4. Ask Your Competitors for Information

One of the worst things you can do is ignore your competition. There are many reasons why this is bad, but primarily because it prevents you from learning what works and what doesn't. So, instead of ignoring your competitors, you should reach out to them and ask for any information they're willing to share. This includes data on your own sales figures, information about how they market their products, as well as other information that is relevant to your business. Of course, if you share certain kinds of information about yourself with your competitor, then you need to make sure you're only sharing the most relevant pieces of data. Otherwise, your competitors might learn something about your business that you don't want them to know.

5. Try a Survey App

There are many ways you can conduct market research through apps. However, the most obvious and perhaps the most successful is using a survey app. These apps allow you to create surveys easily, and then distribute them to all the people you choose. They also let you track the responses to your survey, allowing you to understand how people respond to your questions. Some of these apps even offer pre-written questions that you can use or customize. This makes it easy for you to create a survey quickly, and gives you access to a huge library of templates that cover every topic imaginable.

6. Keep Your Polls Short

People tend to give short answers when filling out surveys, particularly if the questions are open-ended. But sometimes, asking a simple question in a very short format can yield surprising results. For instance, you could ask, "How likely would you be to recommend our company to others?" and then add an answer option of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. People will generally give a number between 1 (very unlikely) and 9 (extremely likely), but some will give a different number, such as 6 or 10. That tells you a lot about how satisfied they are with your company.

7. Analyze Your Website Visitors' Search Patterns

When you run a website, you'll inevitably acquire a large amount of data about your visitors. But did you know you can also use this information to help your marketing efforts? By analyzing the search patterns of your site's visitors, you can determine which keywords your audience uses to find you and then use them in your digital advertising campaigns. This is incredibly helpful because it allows you to target your ads based on real data instead of guessing where your ideal customers might be looking for you.

8. Get Feedback From Your Customers

Customers are the lifeblood of every business. And while word-of-mouth referrals are a wonderful source of new customers, they aren't always enough. You need to make sure your current customers are happy so that they'll continue to spread the word about your brand. One of the best ways to do that is to ask your existing customers for feedback. You can send out customer satisfaction surveys to your email list, or you can hold a live event where you can survey your customers face-to-face.

9. Offer Coupons and Discount Codes

Marketing research is much easier and faster when you offer coupons and discounts to your potential customers. The key here is to offer something that is specific to your industry, and to do so in a way that is unexpected. For instance, instead of offering 20% off your entire order, you could offer free shipping on orders over $50. Or, you could have a daily deal, giving away a coupon code worth a certain percentage off a single item. Most people will be excited just to receive a discount, and your promotion is going to stand out to anyone who sees it.

 

Tips On Journalistic Professionality

1. It is not a journalist's job to win arguments by force of argument. That's the job of lawyers and politicians, who are paid for arguing. Journalists have their own jobs to do. They need to report what happened in an objective way, without slanting or ignoring facts that support one side but which they might dislike, or making up things from whole cloth.

2. A journalist never argues with people who disagree with him about his own views. If you think it's a good idea to let the rich get richer, then the last thing you want to do is argue against it. You'll be seen as part of the problem rather than someone trying to solve it. The best way to deal with this is to claim your right to publish, not to debate. If you've got something to say, write it down, stick it on a piece of paper, and let everyone see.

3. Never argue with anyone about anything unless you're prepared to state publicly how many years of experience you have doing it. This isn't because journalists are so much better at journalism than everyone else – quite the reverse. It's because if you start talking about "experience" you're suddenly arguing in terms of knowledge rather than opinion. People won't take you seriously after that, and you'll lose credibility.

4. When there's a public controversy, always blame both sides equally. There are two reasons for this. One, it saves time and effort. And two, when you're the only one pointing out the obvious flaws in the other side's position, it makes you look like you're in a completely different camp from them, and therefore untouchable. (This also works quite well with politics, by the way.)

5. Make sure you make your editor and your boss look good, however much you may hate them. As long as they don't know how little you actually respect them, you can pretend that you really admire them for having such great taste, even though you hate their guts. And if you ever get a chance to get rid of them, go for it.

6. Don't bother with any of these rules if your employers tell you otherwise. After all, they're the ones paying you.

7. There are no "facts", only interpretations of facts. Every fact has at least three possible interpretations:

(a) Everything is exactly as it seems to be.

(b) The facts are entirely wrong, and everything you thought was true turns out to be false.

(c) The facts are partly right and partly wrong.

If you find yourself thinking "That's not what I believe!" then the answer is that it's probably (c). It's important to recognize that this doesn't mean you're in the right, just that you're more knowledgeable about the subject than everyone else. You'll feel better about this if you remember that it's not your fault if they've got the facts wrong. What's more important is how you interpret them.

8. Reporters shouldn't ask questions. They should supply information. If you want to know something, you're supposed to read the newspaper and fill in the gaps yourself.

9. If you think you can do a better job than the reporters, you're probably right. So go ahead and try. But if they beat you to it, don't complain.

10. The most effective way to influence people is through the media. Because of this, journalists and editors have a duty to use their positions of power to manipulate public opinion in the direction they want. Their job is to create a consensus around whatever political decisions have already been made, and to make sure everyone knows about it.

11. If you think there's some kind of conspiracy between the government and the media to control public opinion, you're crazy.

12. If you're going to write something controversial, you should be aware of the effects your words might have on the readers. If you're worried about the effect your writing will have, you should probably avoid saying anything controversial.

13. If you're not sure whether you're allowed to do something, you're not.

14. If you're not sure you're allowed to do something, you're probably doing it anyway.

15. The purpose of journalism is to sell newspapers, and to keep people reading them. To achieve this, journalists must write interesting stories. However, they don't have to be true. In fact, it's often preferable for them not to be true. The easiest way to produce a story that's interesting is to invent it, or twist the truth, or mix together several different stories so that it looks like they're one big story.

16. The best way to write a gripping story is to invent characters and events and make them perform in ways that are impossible to imagine in real life. For example, if you've got a boring story about a company being investigated for corruption, the best thing you can do is invent a character called "Big Nasty". Then you can make him do things that would never happen in real life.

17. Good writers know how to play on the emotions of their readers. They can make them laugh and cry, and rage against injustice. If you're writing a story that will affect the lives of millions, it helps if you can make your audience angry and scared.

18. A good writer can make his readers forget about the way he writes.