FJA Shortlist 2022
Category: Outstanding Investigative Reporting
Authors: Kumar Sambhav, Nayantara Ranganathan, Shreegireesh Jalihal
Series of articles:
1. How a Reliance-funded firm boosts BJP’s campaigns on Facebook;
2. Inside Facebook and BJP’s world of ghost advertisers;
3. Facebook charged BJP less for India election ads than others;
4. What helps India’s BJP get lower Facebook rates? Divisive content
The original publication is available via the following links:
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/15/inside-facebook-and-bjps-world-of-ghost-advertisers
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/16/facebook-charged-bjp-lower-rates-for-india-polls-ads-than-others
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/3/17/facebook-algorithm-favours-polarising-politics-helps-bjp
Al Jazeera
March 14, 2022
How a Reliance-funded firm boosts BJP’s campaigns on Facebook
Legal loopholes and selective use of rules allowed a Reliance company to pump in millions to promote the BJP in elections. Read more
March 15, 2022
Inside Facebook and BJP’s world of ghost advertisers
Facebook allowed surrogate advertisers to secretly fund BJP’s election campaigns, boosting its reach on the platform. Read more
March 16, 2022
Facebook charged BJP less for India election ads than others
The cheaper rates allow the BJP, Facebook’s largest political client in India, to reach more voters for less money. Read more
March 17, 2022
What helps India’s BJP get lower Facebook rates? Divisive content
BJP’s large following, proxies & polarising content help it game Facebook’s algorithm to get cheap rates. Read more