When media houses killed freedom of expression

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Editor's note: Before we get into this week’s Things Change, I would request you to observe a minute’s silence in memory of freedom of expression.  In what appeared to be an email from the company’s HR department to employees, the India Today Group on Wednesday issued an interim social media advisory, putting a gag on its journalists from sharing their personal political views on any social media platform. The guidelines, effective immediately, are to serve as the “single-line social media policy for the group for the next two months.” https://twitter.com/free_thinker/status/1316288223463665665?s=20 Although the key points are highlighted in the tweet, I’d like to reiterate them here because they are important: First, the email says that no journalist should share political views on any social media platform. Second, their personal handle can only be used to post content from the India Today Group. Which means no replies, no retweets, even if an individual is tagged in a post. Third, any breach will invite disciplinary action, including termination. Let that sink in for a moment.  And finally, the email says that the advisory is “by …