Ragging and the Media

Editing your copy

Why does a fresher so easily submit before his or her seniors? The answer could partly lie in the news reports that the fresher may have grown up reading: reports of suicides and violence as a consequence of ragging. It is thus very important to note how the media covers ragging. Newspaper coverage of the subject will be analysed and commented upon, with specific attention to the ways, if any, in which the media promotes ragging. Also, attempts will be made to find out what problems journalists face in exposing hostel ragging.

We will provide information and resources useful to journalists in covering the subject. By end of May 2005, we hope to bring out a Media Advisory on how to report ragging in 2005-06.

Should you want to contribute an article to this page, mail us.


JAM, do you have common sense?
Why, just why, does a so-called 'youth magazine' publish only pro-ragging articles?

And you thought college was all about freedom?
Anti-ragging measures curb the freedom of students, says an Economic Times article, without noticing that the fresher could also have the right to freedom that is often violated in ragging.

Why are Delhi newspapers promoting ragging?
The most glaring incident of promotion of ragging was in the Hindustan Times. The lead story on page one was, "Freshers complain Day 1 was too goody goody", accompanied with a three column photograph that showed a girl dancing in Kirori Mal College. The photograph was prominently headlined, in block capital letters, "HOW ABOUT A LITTLE RAGGING?"

And what is a "ragging scare"?

You have heard of a bomb scare, but what is a ragging scare? The Pune edition of the Indian Express reports on 4th May: "Ragging scare at SP College, student told to leave hostel". See our analysis of their report + a more reasonable report from the Sakal Herald newspaper.

The Times of India's "shocking repeat"

How the Times of India reported the SP College, Pune, ragging case.

Home > Research > Ragging and the Media: Index