Wonderla Holidays’ Boss Fumes At Wrong Press Report, Journalist Sacked

Wrong reporting by New Indian Express about the amusement park sector

Pramod Thomas is not a rookie journalist. Instead, he is the Principal Correspondent-Business of The New Indian Express, a reputed news paper.

He wrote an article titled “Amusement parks fail to amuse promoters as footfall declines” in which he claimed that the amusement parks sector is “going through a rough patch with foot falls declining as much as 30 per cent in the current season (September-April)”. He also claimed that the growth, which was projected to be at 10-20 per cent for the next four years, may be clipped due to the slowdown.

A person named Shalimar of Silver Storm Water Theme Park was quoted as saying that “After November 8, there was a block created in the minds of people preventing them from spending for activities other than essential ones” and that this has affected the amusement park industry in the country”.

Thereafter, the following quote was attributed to Arun Chittilappilly, MD of Wonderla Holidays:

“Factors such as big film releases and even cricket matches will affect footfalls in amusement parks in the country. Demonetisation was another reason which affected the sector as people were reluctant to spend. We hope that with the latest investment on existing parks, more people will come into our parks”.

The shocking aspect is that the journalist had never spoken to Arun Chittilappilly and so the so-called quote was a figment of his imagination.

Arun Chittilappilly confronts journalist

Understandably, Arun Chittilappilly was enraged that a quote was attributed to him even though he had never been interviewed.

This is especially so because Wonderla Holidays is listed on the stock exchanges and adverse news emanating from the promoter can send the stock price plunging and cause incalculable loss to investors.

He confronted the journalist and extracted an admission from him.

#thenewindianexpress likes to make up articles I think. @NewIndianXpress their journo Pramod has accepted that I've not been interviewed pic.twitter.com/yepEbsImeQ

— Arun Chittilappilly (@arunpally) May 8, 2017

Private apology tendered but no correction in article or public apology

The journalist fairly admitted in his message to Arun Chittilappilly that there was a “mistake” and that he was tendering “sincere apologies”.

However, the astonishing part is that the article has still not been taken down or altered so as to correct the mistake.

There is also no public apology forthcoming from New Indian Express for the incorrect reporting.

Bingo! Nailed him @NewIndianXpress pls hire proper journos #badjournalism pic.twitter.com/nu8Iyjp5pb

— Arun Chittilappilly (@arunpally) May 8, 2017

Journalist fired?

Arun Chittilappilly claimed that the journalist has been “fired with immediate effect” though he lamented the fact that there is “still no apology”.

Apparently the journalist has been fired with immediate effect. But still no apology ? #badjournalism @NewIndianXpress https://t.co/vZrxZq6tCZ

— Arun Chittilappilly (@arunpally) May 9, 2017

What about journalists who mischievously seek to fan communal tension?

While the above episode appears to be somewhat frivolous and inconsequential, the episode of wrong reporting by Sagarika Ghose and Pallavi Ghosh has sinister consequences because it appears to be a deliberate attempt to fan communal tension.

Pallavi Ghosh, the senior editor of CNN News 18, claimed that there was a “shocking story” from the UP about a woman who was “gang raped for eating beef”.

Shocking stories from UP : woman gang raped for eating beef !

— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) May 8, 2017

When the UP Police confronted her and demanded information about the incident, she maintained a deafening silence.

@_pallavighosh -Your tweet seems fictional as we could not verify it from anywhere. Kindly let us know the details pic.twitter.com/2iW4dS8mY2

— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) May 8, 2017

Understandably, citizens are outraged at the irresponsible manner in which senior journalists report on matters, especially on sensitive issues.

. @CNNnews18 journalist Pallavi Ghosh caught red handed trying to create unrest by spreading rumours. #Shame pic.twitter.com/tXwDlgD9ql

— Priti Gandhi (@MrsGandhi) May 8, 2017

@_pallavighosh @HarryP2424 @Uppolice Spreading rumours by senior editor of CNN news 18 shows their credibility

— அமித் (@The_Amit_Sharma) May 8, 2017

Let's all take a moment to request @Uppolice to take action against @_pallavighosh for fanning communal tensions pic.twitter.com/eM0cnxiICx

— Nupur (@UnSubtleDesi) May 8, 2017

.@Uppolice if ur unbias police, file FIR against @sagarikaghose & @_pallavighosh for spreading comunnal disharmony@dgpup@myogiadityanath pic.twitter.com/uJfyQWYHK6

— #GauravPradhan ?? (@DrGPradhan) May 8, 2017

@_pallavighosh @_pallavighosh tweets similar malicious tweet again after 7 months. Earlier abt Haryana & now UP.
Earlier claim debunked by @rupasubramanya pic.twitter.com/MkTBLyBkqh

— ♔K° (@Kaushal_75) May 8, 2017

The baffling aspect is that instead of deleting the tweet and issuing a graceful apology, Pallavi Ghosh has stayed defiant and instead demanded that the police should take action against those who exposed her bogus news.

@HarryP2424 @Uppolice And how's that ? @Uppolice if you say it didn't happen I will accept it but he abuses on twitter is something u shldnt endorse either

— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) May 8, 2017

@_pallavighosh Still you haven't deleted this… Shameless woman

— sreedhar g (@sguru22) May 10, 2017

Prima facie, if Pramod Thomas lost his job with New Indian Express for careless reporting, there is no reason why Pallavi Ghosh, Sagarika Ghose and others should not meet the same fate because their carelessness and irresponsible attitude has far more sinister consequences!