News Headline
Americans trust Fox, Eminem more than Variety, Bush
NEW YORK: Americans trust CNN and Fox slightly more than they trust national network TV news and considerably more than they trust national feature magazines such as People and Vanity Fair. More Americans find greater truth in Eminem’s lyrics than President Bush’s speeches.
These findings are contained in a recent survey by Euro RSCG Worldwide. The survey also dealt with gossip. Of the 1,016 American adults polled, 75 per cent agreed that “Americans are obsessed with Hollywood gossip.” Nearly, 74 per cent believe “Americans adore personal scandals such as JFK’s alleged affairs or a celebrity in jail.”
Also interesting is the fact that more men than women find Oprah Winfrey trustworthy. As far as news publications are concerned, Americans consider The Wall Street Journal the most trustworthy source of hard news, followed by an equal vote for USA Today, The New York Times and MSNBC.com. At the bottom are Bill O’Reilly and Oprah.
In the aftermath of the Iraq War bad-boy rapper Eminem scored higher on truth telling than George W. Bush. Around 53 per cent of respondents agreed that “America’s youth find more ‘truth’ in Eminem’s lyrics than in President Bush’s speeches”. Just 19 per cent disagreed. And age was not a critical factor: 55 per cent of those aged 35-44 agreed that Eminem’s lyrics contain more truth than President Bush’s speeches.
Euro RSCG Worldwide’s chief strategy officer Marian Salzman said: “This survey confirms the remarkable power of person-to-person communication. The most trustworthy information source of all? Restaurant reviews from friends. After that: local news. This tells us that while people may take information from nationally branded media sources, it is not credible until they process it themselves until they convert it to buzz.”
The former editorial director of America Online Jesse Kornbluth said, “It is not surprising that Euro RSCG found such a low level of trust in traditional ‘authoritative’ sources of news. News is so completely managed these days–not just by celebrity press agents, but by government and business — that it is harder and harder to believe most of what you read. Ironically, you can believe gossip; more and more, Gossip is ‘all the news before it happens.'”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
