Media professionals debate responsibility of media in emerging India

To create awareness and generate debate about recent controversies and the role of media, and sensitise students, the department of Communication of St Josephs College organised a seminar on the theme ‘The responsibility of media in an emerging India’ here on Friday. The chief guest for the seminar was Maharaja Pradyot Bikram Manikya, the King of Royal House of Tripura and the Editor of North East Times.

Addressing the seminar Fr Ambrose Pinto, Principal of SJC said, “There is a nexus between the media houses and the corporates. Reporting in India is highly communal, corporate and corrupt.” Speaking about various communal issues of the country he pointed out the Godhra case and said that the respective people involved in the carnage of Gujarat riots were not only considered heroes, but were also a part of the government.

The first session of the seminar was addressed by K.S Dakshina Murthy, the Editorial Consultant at The Hindu, who spoke about the phenomenon of Paid news and journalistic ethics’. The session was chaired by Prof. Syed Amjed Ahmed from the department of Communication of SJC. “Journalistic ethics, particularly paid news, is a very vast, nuanced area which is very difficult to judge and take action against,” said Mr Murthy.

Providing an insight into ‘News sources and journalist relations’, Prof. N. Ashok Kumar, Chairman of the department of Electronic Media, Bangalore University, spoke extensively about the credibility and confidentiality of the news source a journalist should maintain. “Cultivation of sources and maintaining them is the only hope for journalists,” said Mr Kumar. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Leela Rao, from the department of Communication.

Afternoon session started with a panel discussion about ‘The future of investigative journalism’. The chairperson for the event was Byatha N. Jagadeesha,, advocate of the High Court and Human Rights activist. The issue was discussed in detail by Sanjana, deputy editor of tehalka.com and Bansy Kalappa, special correspondent and chief reporter of News 9.

Nearly 200 people, mostly students from various colleges of Bangalore took part in the seminar.

- Sneha and Rahiba, I M S Com