TV runs on manufactured dissent, says Barkha Dutt

The shadow of the 26/11 terror attacks loomed over the conversation between journalists -author Barkha Dutt and Raghu Karnad, with Dutt describing 2008 as a turning point exposing the gaps in government and media.
Speaking at the Times Lit Fest 2016, Dutt said, “Since 2008, it was my first encounter with how polarising my work can be. I get strong reactions to my work and I think that is ok.It was the beginning of the amplification of smear campaign. There were reactions about how great my coverage was and Facebook pages dedicated to “I hate Barkha.”
The smear campaign on social media and fake news were being hotly debated in the United States after the Trump campaign in what was now being described as “post-truth” world.
Dutt speaking in the context of her recently launched book “This Unquiet Land” about her interactions with soldiers and the army said it concerned her that nationalism was loosely bandied about. “Isn't it ridiculous that we have to invoke nationalism to talk about demonitisation,” she asked the audience. “When you turn patriotism into a political debate you take away from it, “she added.
In her interactions with soldiers, she said that it was them and not the politicians who appeared to have the highest stake in peace. “There is a huge gap between political conversation and military. The military wants a peaceful resolution. It's not us sitting here, but the soldiers who have to pay the price for conflict, she said.
Another issue that was debated by Karnad was the noise and perceived insensitivity around televised news. “I believe that TV runs on manufactured dissent.”