Reading the news: a worksheet

Tasmac makes digital payments mandatory for liquor purchases above Rs 1,000 from November 1

6 reports from 5 outlets over 15 hours.

• The Hindu BusinessLine, Deccan Herald and Outlook India used nearly the same words. Headlines this close usually come from one news agency’s copy.

1. NI The New Indian Express · 27 Oct
   Tasmac makes digital payments mandatory for liquor purchases above Rs 1,000 from November 1
2. HB The Hindu BusinessLine · 27 Oct · ≈ same wording
   TASMAC mandates digital payments for liquor purchases above ₹1,000 from Nov 1
3. DH Deccan Herald · 27 Oct · ≈ same wording
   TASMAC mandates digital payments for liquor purchases above Rs 1,000 from November 1
4. OI Outlook India · 27 Oct · ≈ same wording
   TASMAC Mandates Digital Payments For Liquor Purchases Above Rs 1,000 From Nov 1
5. Mi Mint News · 27 Oct
   Tamil Nadu’s TASMAC makes digital payments mandatory for liquor purchases – Implementation date | Cash to be stopped?

   Words only this outlet used: Tamil Nadu’s, Implementation date, Cash, stopped.

6. Mi Mint News · 27 Oct
   Tamil Nadu: Why is Chennai making digital payments mandatory for liquor purchases above ₹1,000 from November 1?

   Words only this outlet used: Tamil Nadu, Chennai making.

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/8224