Reading the news: a worksheet

Supreme Court to hear on Sunday pleas against violation of order on Delhi curbs, detention of Opposition leaders

4 reports from 4 outlets over 2 hours.

• Times of India and Deccan Herald used nearly the same words. Headlines this close usually come from one news agency’s copy.

1. HT Hindustan Times · 6 h · changed
   Supreme Court to hear on Sunday pleas against violation of order on Delhi curbs, detention of Opposition leaders

   Words only this outlet used: Supreme Court, order, curbs, detention, Opposition leaders.

   Earlier headline Supreme Court to hear plea on Sunday seeking contempt action over 'violation' of Delhi curbs order: Report · change seen 10 Oct, 9:35 pm?

2. IE The Indian Express News · 6 h
   Protests in Delhi: SC to hear on Sunday plea seeking contempt action against authorities for alleged violation of its Oct 9 direction

   Words only this outlet used: alleged, Oct 9 direction.

3. TI Times of India · 6 h · ≈ same wording
   Delhi protests: SC to hear plea seeking contempt action against authorities on Sunday
4. DH Deccan Herald · 4 h · ≈ same wording
   Delhi protest: SC to hear on Sunday plea seeking contempt action against authorities

Questions

1. Which words do most headlines share? Which words does only one outlet use, and what do they stress?

2. Who reported it first, and how long did the others take? Does “first seen by Huduku” mean they broke the story?

3. How many different owners carried it? Do any outlets share an owner, or nearly the same words?

4. Which outlets you know did not carry it? What might explain that?

5. What is the original source (a judgment, notice, speech or set of figures)? Find it. Does any headline say more than the source does?

6. If you shared one of these headlines, which would it be, and why?

Each headline links to the outlet’s own report. Huduku shows headlines only. https://huduku.org/story/4231