What is happening to The Hindu? What follows is self-explanatory. This is not an isolated sloppiness. I shall post more on the issue on a daily basis. This is what I sent its Readers’ Editor on 14.6.08.
Dear Readers' Editor,
The matter I wish to bring to your notice is not an isolated error, but a sample of a pattern of errors the Karnataka - Bangalore edition carries almost every day. I am afraid, the problem is systemic.Here is the sample:The Hindu Online edition, Saturday, Jun 14, 2008Karnataka, Bangalore.
"Chain-snatchers have a field day"
Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: In just over an hour on Friday evening, five women, all pedestrians, lost over 200 gm of gold when two motorcycle-borne miscreants snatched their chains, across four police station limits. The incidents took place in Subramanyanagar and Malleswaram police limits in North Division, and Seshadripuram and Vyalikaval police limits in Central Division. The police suspect said [?] that the same duo could have been involved in all the five chain-snatching cases. The police said that the chain-snatching spree that commenced around 7.15 p.m. ended at Seshadripuram police limits by 8.20 p.m. The police said that both rider and person riding pillion were wearing helmets during the chain-snatching incidents, and in at least three cases, the victims could not identify the vehicle. Miscreants struck on Malleswaram 5th Main, 9th Cross, around 7.45 p.m. when they snatched two gold chains from Saraswani (39) who was returning home with her child. Saraswani lost her “mangalasutra” and a chain, together weighing 100 gm. The police said that the bike-borne duo chose to strike at her at a dimly lit place on the 9th Cross. Two cases of chain-snatching were reported in the Central Division. In Vyalikaval police limits, the culprits snatched the chain of a 58-year-old woman on Vyalikaval 3rd Main Road around 8.20 p.m. The police said that Malathi R. Rao was walking with her husband when the duo came from the opposite direction and snatched the gold chain weighing around 60 gm. Around 8.45 p.m., the culprits snatched a 20 gm gold chain from Kala (21) while she was walking with her mother Susheelamma on Seshadripuram Pipeline Road. “In both the incidents, the victims were unable to identify the vehicle or the vehicle number as they were in a state of shock,” ACP R. Lakshmana told The Hindu. The police said that both the places were crowded when the incident took place, and that no one bothered to chase the culprits. Two cases of chain-snatching were also reported in Subramanyanagar police station limits. Women were robbed of their gold chains in Gayatrinagar and Milk Colony, details of which were not available." As you might have noted, there were, altogether, five incidents, but the reporter could get details of only three. The details mentioned are about the victims, the amount of gold lost and the time of the incidents. The amount of gold lost in the three known incidents add up to 180 gms. but the report begins by saying that altogether over 200 gm of gold was lost. The time mentioned for the three known incidents were 7.45 pm., 8.20 pm., and 8.45 pm., but, the report begins by saying that they commenced around 7.15 p.m. [and] ended at Seshadripuram police limits by 8.20 p.m. Are these "significant errors"? You may decide. I feel that they certainly do not deserve a formal correction note. But, such errors and sloppy compositions appearing repeatedly may erode The Hindu's credibility with its readers. Should we care? I wish The Hindu family as a whole, that includes the readers, should.
With best wishes,
Suzarin