Friday 16 November 2007

A NATIONAL PRESS DAY SPECIAL -- HOW TO GET A GOAN EDITOR INTO BED!!!

FIRST, READ THESE CLASSIFIED ADS CAREFULLY... DON'T MISS ANY DETAIL... AND THEN, READ ONIt is irritating to put this note right at the head of this post. We wish we could have just plunged headlong into the story instead. But we must make sure that you guys know the motive behind this small, but dishy story that we bring to you. There is no personal element involved here. We have only tried to do bring to the fore, the callousness with which newspapers treat their readers. We tell you how it takes only a Rs 60 classified ad (in vernacular newspapers) or a Rs 120 classified ad in English language newspapers to expose the moral and ethical bankruptcy in Goan newspapers. (in all we spent Rs 300 for the classified ads that were published in the three newspapers on November 16, 2007)
What Penpricks has attempted to do in public interest, is pay these newspapers back in their own slimy, stinking coin. Our objective is to remind the editors of the responsibility they owe their readers. We are aware that this blog is a puny David in front of these mammoth newspapers of Goliathic proportions and hence we have followed this guerilla approach to lash out at their wrongs. We've jabbed their jaw, punched their chest, tied knots round their feet, but this story is a knee up their groin. Should serve them well to remember, that they should not take their readers for a ride.
This is the story... here goes
You must have seen several classified ads in Goan newspapers peddling 'massages' to clients. We had run a story on such obvious soliciting (through massage parlours of course) in The Hindustan Times some months back. We were not very pleased with this trend creeping its way in our own backyard and hence were looking out for a way to work a story around this, when one of us pricks in a rare spasm of brilliance, came up with this idea.
This was the premise...
a) Most 'massage parlour' ads solicit prostitution
b) Newspapers in Goa have no compunctions against publishing such ads
c) The editors are and should be held responsible for all the content published in their respective newspapers. There is no way they can shy away from this responsibility.
This is how we went about planning the story. We picked three newspapers. We could have easily picked up more, but that would have meant more money...
We worded these classified ad in such a way that there was no ambiguity about the fact, that the ad had less to do with massages and had everything to do with the flesh trade.
Secondly, the ads we released clearly said that there were 'well built Arab/Asian boys and girls' to be had for massages and entertainment.
It is shocking that the newspapers had absolutely no issue advertising "BOYS and GIRLS" or in other words minors, for the purpose of massage and 'entertainment'.
Can you beat this guys?
In other words, these chappie have absolutely no qualms being party to peddling minors for massage and entertainment purposes. And by entertainment, we clearly did not mean a Bharatnatyam or a Salsa performance. It could mean only one thing... You know what that is.
Next comes the core of the brainwave, the prick came up with.
In the classified ad, we put in the mobile numbers of the respective editors as contact numbers for people interested in the 'services' that the ad offered.
If you read the three ads, you'll see the contact names as Aruna, Sandy and Robby and their corresponding cellular numbers. The ad which says Aruna was published in The Navhind Times. Aruna is scrambled for the newspaper's editor Arun Sinha and that's his mobile number up there. The ad which says Sandy was published in Gomantak, Marathi. Sandy stands for Gomantak editor Sanjay Dhavalikar and of course finally the ad which says Robby was published in the Herald. Robby is scrambled for our one and only Herald editor Robin Abreu. Sanjay and Robin's mobile numbers too accompany their respective ads.
We are sure people interested in such 'services' have called these guys up using the phone numbers given. Till an hour or so the editors had already stopped picking up phones from unknown numbers. We know this would really rankle them. We are glad it does. It ought to remind them of the job they are supposed to be doing as journalists in senior positions. In case they still don't remember, Penpricks will come up with a few more ways to remind them again.
If you are convinced with what we’ve written out here, do call em up and speak your mind to them ask them why such ads are published? Or you could also call them, if you want to listen to their side of the story... here are their numbers...
Arun Sinha: Editor, The Navhind Times -- 0832-6651120 and 0832-6651123 (direct line) or 09823026348
Robin Abreu: Editor Herald 09822122325 and 0832-2433373 (direct line)
Herald board numbers: 0091-832-2224202,2224460,2228083
Sanjay Dhavalikar: 09822129348 or 08322402701/02

18 Comments:

Blogger abhishek1122 said...

good boss u really did a good job. I dont know how it will affect their conscience but a great move keep it up

16 November 2007 at 19:28  
Blogger augusto pinto said...

Dear penpricks
This story's absolutely hilarious except that it really hides a very sad story underneath. How many youngsters would be able to understand what these and other such ads which for eg invite them to become film stars even without any experience of acting mean- until it is too late?

16 November 2007 at 20:36  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh this one is funny, very funny. You have style and guts - it's a real pity that neither of these qualities is being put to use (or evident) in the Goan papers.

16 November 2007 at 22:45  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dunno how you came to the conclusion that 'boys' and 'girls' means minors. A 16 year old, though a minor, is permitted to work in India.

Room boys, working in hotels/motels are generally above 18, yet they are called 'boys'.
Even local toughies call their goons, 'boys'. So do the pizza delivery chaps. They are known as delivery boys and they ride geared bikes.

The recently launched local TV channels often feature massage & rejuvination programmes advertising a Panaji based salon called Snip as well as some another groups (natives of Kerala offering oil massage). Speaking of these TV channels has anyone seen the presenter, criticise the cuisine, in their lifestyle sections.

If someone is interested you can send sms to these editors by pretending to be someone else. To do that just enter 'bulk sms' into Google, and choose a website. Now you can send sms to these editors.

Just imagining these editors getting responses makes me feel like laughing.

17 November 2007 at 04:32  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Will do 'ardent'... (PP)
Please publish at the blog if possible.

Ethics of Journalists
It's an eye opener for un-ethical journalists that includes editors to change their mindset. Today journalists have converted themselves as information assistants or glorified clerks. Only a few guys can stand up tall.
Many working journalists has converted this profession (journalism) into a profession of political and business prostitution.

They have forgotten that besides being journalist and employees of a newspaper, they also have a social responsibility towards the society to give proper and correct information to the members of the public.
What is shocking is that the media houses has become black mailers. If one newspaper gets a advertisement of a company, immediately the other newspaper approaches the company to release the same advertisement in their newspaper, and if the same is not released in its newspaper, the following day the newspaper will carry a story criticizing or some violation or item that brings dis-repute to the company or something about their past wrong doing.
Another issue that I would like to raise is that time and again the newspapers have sold out their headline to commercial establishments. This happens during special festivals like Ganesh, Diwali, Christmas or New Year.
A reader is force to read an advertisement instead of reading the days headline news. To support my argument I would like to cite the example of “Aldeia de Goa”. Just a couple of days back maybe 4 or 5 days this company which has violated most of the environment laws and has obtained permissions by way of bribing the politicians and the officers of the concerned government departments had released a colour advertisement in some prominent newspapers on the front page right above the main headline news thereby replacing the headline of the day.
What does it mean to a reader who is forced to read this advertisement. What will the people of Bambolim, especially the affected people who have no means to fight the might of this big companies feel. Who are they going to approach. They need support from different quarters including the media.
Will the media wake up. Instead of correcting themselves these guys will go to the police station to file cases.
An ardent reader of penpricks.

17 November 2007 at 11:44  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

From Plagiariams to Cash for Editorials and now Arabic Massage.

Is Robin feeling the heat of Penpricks. Or is he still the same cold blooded baldie who has no shame.

Probably he must be very happy to get some odd publicity.

17 November 2007 at 11:59  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These guys (Editors) who sit in this big chairs getting hefy salaries only come to Goa and make a business out of everything.

You will see these guys dining and wining with company officials. They will attend a dinner hosted by the Chief Minister or attend a tea party hosted by the Governor.

Besides being spotted at a few places to please the political asses and a classless herd of businessmen. What has the editors done in Goa.

The Editorial space is the soul of a newspaper. Besides filling this space. The editor never go beyond that. The rest of the work is done by a incompetent sub-editor on the desk in the most of the newspapers.

17 November 2007 at 12:05  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey pricks,
congrats to you for your spasm of brilliance. What a joke it is and it is not even April. I am sure that the three editors would be squirming in their seats and for all you know, they would have holed themselves in some seedy massage parlour and plotting against you pricks. How to hit back at them. Be careful guys, This joke is on them and they will be fuming.
Having said that, I do not see how much substance your story holds. How can you expect an editor of a newspaper to scan the classified ads and check the content that goes in there.
Any editor worth his salt is only expected to write a good editorial piece voicing the opinion of his newspaper. Although personal and professional views do get into an editorial, beyond that the rest of the editorial content is handled by the editor's chelas, cronies and or subordinates who handle daily affairs.
The advertising section is different ball game and even though sometimes the ad guys step into the editorial territory and the thin line that seperates the two gets blurred, I am sure no editor is involved in the ad sections.
So holding Aruna, Robby, and Sandy responsible for the 'sex' messages inserted by you Pricks does not hold much water.
Having worked in many newspapers, we all know that fact.
What has a classified advt got to with an editor however 'Arunised', 'Robbinised' or 'Sandyised' he is.
I am not trying to defend these glorified nincompoofs, but the fact remains that they are not responsible for such stuff as classified ads.
I do not know the legal angle of this and how the Press Council views this.

17 November 2007 at 15:06  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

just called Robby for a traditional Filipino massage..... dude, talking to him over the phone you just get to realize that he may just be a better masseur than an editor... it probably is easier to plagiarize the filipino and mallu massage techniques than use the net to search for 'would be great herald page filles'.

17 November 2007 at 17:13  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fantastic stuff, pricks...
Good expose of journalistic ethics which are dead long ago!
But it is necessary to exhume the reality and fling it into the faces of those who pose to be possessed by integrity and conviction...
BTW the goajourno website carries a snap of journalists playing dice at the Caravela...
Freud says that if you wear a slip it will show... ho, ho
-P

18 November 2007 at 09:20  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Penpricks,,,,,

Have u opened an new opening for Robin to start a new venture because he is unfit to be a journalist.

He will be a good masseur. And he can sell this idea. The Bald Masseur in Town.

19 November 2007 at 12:30  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

this is lame and cheap, Posting a classified and having the editors phone numbers on it... well im beginning to think that you guys are finally hitting a draught in real articles and are going on the old yellow trail.

20 November 2007 at 09:09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

dear pen pricks

How come you have yet again left out the Gomantak Times in this sting. Are you guys scared shit of a stern backlash from GT editor Derrick Pereira or his Deputy Ashley Rosario.
GT for some reason never figures in penpricks.

20 November 2007 at 13:15  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

On the contrary I think the editors have taken Penpricks to bed. Pricks, youll seem to be running out of ink and even hibernating. Wake up guys, we need to see youll performing.

21 November 2007 at 01:56  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To the anonymous who wrote on
20 November 2007 13:15

I am sure that the following link will answer your query

http://penpricks.blogspot.com/2007/06/new-visitor-at-prickville.html

21 November 2007 at 15:25  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

everything can happen in goa,its just the matter of money how much u pay.

23 November 2007 at 20:06  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

reply to penprciks reply of 21 nov 15:25

Just do a self survey on how many hits/accusations, scams, exposes against Herald, NT and GT. you will see that there is virtually nothing against gomantak times (english). even the classified expose could have included GT.
Shame/ shame.
As far as biasedness goes everyone is human.

28 November 2007 at 11:18  
Blogger Rina Mukherji said...

Nice to see someone expose this. But then, Goa is not the only place where such classifieds stare you in the eye. This is rampant all over the country. One wonders..has the print media come to such a sorry state that such classifieds need to be accepted to finance a newspaper. Gone are the days when the fourth estate could be respected as a pillar of democracy!

2 December 2007 at 18:46  

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