June 8, 2024

Good morning. Every Saturday, we publish the results of polls from feature stories that were published the past week. We also give a brief overview of the topics that were discussed.

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🗳️ POLL RESULTS – Week 178

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🗓️ THE WEEK THAT WAS

Is the Chabahar Port deal good for India?

Daily | 3 June 2024

The port is an important trade gateway and corridor between India, Afghanistan, and Iran. However, Raisi’s death, combined with the possibility of sanctions from the United States, has complicated things. Not to mention that the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan. Was this deal a mistake? Will it do any good for India? Read more on this here.

Does Thiruvananthapuram need a metro rail network?

Daily | 4 June 2024

The next city to pull into the metro station could be Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. It’s unlikely to be the last. But, urban planners and activists have wondered if a metro network, which is expensive and time-consuming, is the answer to the city’s transportation woes. Are there alternatives that would be better suited? We discuss it here.

Is “One Nation, One Subscription” right for India?

Daily | 5 June 2024

In India, OA publishing’s history has been chequered. There has been some progress with institutional initiatives. However, the broader landscape is fractured since we don’t have a streamlined national OA mandate. The government wanted to change that with the “One Nation One Subscription” plan it announced in 2020. Can the government ensure it can come up with a workable model with publishers? Does such a scheme make sense? We unpack this here.

Have traditional media outlets been upended this election season?

Daily | 6 June 2024

Depending on who you ask, the media has either failed in its mission to report on the truth and hold people in power accountable or has done its job well, pointing to ratings and viewership. One significant aspect of this election is social media usage. Much was written about how this election will mostly play out online as people look to alternative sources of information and outreach. Has that borne out? Find the debate here.

Do personality rights stifle creativity and innovation?

Daily | 7 June 2024

Abroad, we had the high-profile OpenAI vs Scarlett Johansson episode. Back home, several celebrities have gone to the courts to seek protection for their personality rights. After all, celebrities make money from their image and personality. Given the legal complexities involved in this subject, can things be taken too far? Can legal protection actually hamper someone else’s free speech and creativity? More on this story here.