I am a resident of Bangalore since 4.5 years. Last year with swine flu in full rage all around us, many Bangaloreans (including us) went to get even common cold and regular flu diagnosed. Media had been covering the event extensively. They were present at the hospital (NIMHANS) where we went for a checkup, interviewing people and clicking pictures. I chose to stay away, (neither did I encourage any interviews, nor did I allow my pictures to be clicked) and further rooted myself into the chair.
Next was my turn for the report... Common cold! Chapter close!

Fast forward to today (26th June 2010)

I came to Mumbai to spend time with my family. Saturday morning, 26th June 2010, I flip open the newspaper and voila! DNA page 4, top header reads, "2 MORE TEST POSITIVE FOR SWINE FLU" with a thumbnail of my picture in it!!

Here is the link

epaper.dnaindia.com/bigwin.aspx?url=EpaperImages%5C26062010%5Cmaximumc itydfkh-large.jpg&eddate=6/26/2010&pageno=4&edition=7&prntid=119323&bxid=9106&pg no=4


It is not just shocking to be linked to this article, but also incredible to learn that the company chose images of over a year old, esp. where the subject was totally unaware of being photographed. As if this was not enough, they extracted it off their library from another city (Bangalore) furtively to spruce up the header. It is disheartening to discover that people are treated as props to complete / augment an article that is not even related to them.

We all know that headlines / news and images are implied as relative. The same is not even applicable in this case. It is a very upsetting episode and I have already lost the trust and authenticity in articles from this newspaper. My family is very upset and my friends and social networks are either jeering or asking questions. It is unfair and I demand justice against this defamatory deed.