Are the media discharging their duties as expected of them? Are they being responsible at a critical time as these? What are the trends and opportunities available for young media aspirants in India today? These were some of the issues discussed and debated at the Outlook 2011- Media Matters, seminar held here on Saturday, January 8.
The seminar was organised by MOP Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai in collaboration with St Josephs College, Bangalore. The theme of the seminar was ‘Trends and Opportunities in Media’ and a number of speakers from a wide array of media related backgrounds shared their expertise on the subject matter.
Prof. G.K Govind Rao
The Chief guest for the event G.K Govind Rao, an actor and activist, in his inaugural address explored the role of media in a democracy. He said, “The media plays the role of an unelected opposition leader in a democracy. It should not be partisan. They must not take a stand for or against the party in power, but rather for the issue at hand.” He added, “The media has the dual role of providing knowledge and sharing experience. It should help the reader understand the past and visualise the future.”
Shedding light on the values that the media must propagate, he said, “The tenets of a democratic society include justice and equity. But for years, we have inherited feelings of superiority and inferiority. The media must mercilessly point out the kind of society we are trying to continue. The media must not cater to the audience’ taste, rather it should create new ones. It must help the youth think differently.”
Fr Ambrose Pinto, Principal of St Josephs College, who presided over the event, said, “There is a close nexus of the media with the corporate and political world. This marks the imminent death of the people’s media. The media today is communal, corrupt and commercial. What we should have in its place is a people-centric media which is concerned, compassionate and conscious.”
The speakers for the event were Prakash Belawadi, a journalist and film director, TNA Perumal, a wildlife photographer, Sourabh Panjwani, Post Doctoral Researcher working for Microsoft Research India and Sneha Iype, Executive producer, Nirvana Films. Each of these speakers shared the prevailing trends and presented the various opportunities that exist in their fields.
Prakash Belwadi
Students from colleges around the city such as Sri Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain College (SBMJC), Christ University, National College, Garden City College, St Josephs Evening College and Sri Sri Media Center were in attendance for the event. “The Seminar gave us a practical perspective of how the industry functions today,” said Firdouse from SBMJC.
- Parinitha, James, I M S Com
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