Australian Media Misrepresents Jadeja's Press Conference: Here's What Really Happened
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When touring Australia, one faces not only a formidable team but also an often-overlooked yet influential presence—the Australian media, which can be quite prominent. During the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the media has begun to showcase its tactics. A notable incident occurred upon the arrival of former Indian captain Virat Kohli at Melbourne airport on December 19, where an exchange with a Channel 7 reporter reached a critical point.
The situation escalated further during a press conference with Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Channel 7 reported that Jadeja "refused" to respond to their reporters' questions in English, leaving the journalists, who had travelled after receiving an "invitation," feeling "perplexed" by the "strange and frosty media conference" at the MCG.
However, the actual circumstances tell a different story.
Debunking Australia media's incorrect report, accusing Team India and Ravindra Jadeja
Australian media's assertion 1: "Ravindra Jadeja of India encountered reporters, yet the Australian media appeared perplexed when the prominent allrounder declined to respond to inquiries in English," the report stated. "India’s media contingent indicated which reporters were permitted to pose questions and even recognized several Australian journalists. However, Jadeja exclusively replied in his native language."
Fact: At no point did Jadeja decline to respond in English, as he was not posed any questions in that language. He primarily answered inquiries in Hindi, as the Indian reporters communicated in that language.
Australian media's assertion 2: "The press conference concluded when he informed the journalists that he needed to catch the bus."
Fact: Jadeja did not indicate at any time that the team bus was departing and that he needed to leave.
Australian media's assertion 3: "India’s media team stated that the conference was intended for ‘travelling Indian media only,’ despite the invitation extended to Australian media."
Fact: The press conference was predominantly designated for the travelling Indian media. The notification from the Indian camp was disseminated solely through the WhatsApp group for travelling media, and a representative from Cricket Australia communicated this to the Australian journalists.
Australian media misbehaves
A pair of Australian journalists displayed discourteous behaviour towards the Indian media manager, instructing their cameramen to continue recording their interaction. Their conduct approached a level of aggression.
This event follows closely on the heels of Channel 7's infringement on the privacy of Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli, who was filmed with his children at the Melbourne airport without his consent. While there is no explicit regulation preventing the media from capturing footage of a public figure like Kohli, it would have been considerate to protect his family, particularly his young children, from such exposure. Furthermore, the sensational reporting that suggested Kohli had an outburst and engaged in a heated confrontation with a female reporter from the same channel raises concerns. A travelling Indian journalist reported that Kohli maintained his composure and was courteous in requesting that the Australian media respect his privacy, even extending a handshake to the camera after receiving assurance that the footage would not be utilized without his consent.
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy stands at 1-1, it seems that the tension extends beyond the players on the field, particularly in light of the upcoming Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
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