Since its inception in early 2001, The Hoot has held a mirror to the way journalists have practiced their craft in India. Known for flagging uncomfortable truths and raising hard-hitting questions, the site examines ways in which Indian media does (or does not) fulfill its mandate of strengthening public debate, and of providing a voice to the powerless and marginalized. The Hoot Reader achieves some of the best critiques of journalism written over the past decade on topics ranging from media ethics to questions of objectivity, bias, and the implications of corporate ownership. Highlighting the Indian media s immense political and ideological influence over our lives, this collection discusses how national issues such as communal violence, elections, terrorism, the judiciary, and corruption are shaped by it. In reporting how the media covers India, it reports on the complexity and promise of India itself.