Burdwan, West Bengal: Fifteen media persons were assaulted, most of them photo journalists, allegedly by a section of junior doctors at the state-run Burdwan Medical College and Hospital in Burdwan today.The newsmen, both from the electronic and some leading print media houses, angered junior doctors when they tried to take photos of a protest over the death of a girl at an infectious ward allegedly because of “wrong treatment”. Mediapersons claimed that 15 of them, including those belonging to Ananda Bazar Patrika, Bartaman, Aajkal, Kolkata TV, NE Bangla and 24 Ghanta, were injured in the assault. ABP lensman Udit Singha and Mukul Rehman from Bartaman, who were seriously injured, had to be admitted to a nursing home, the mediapersons claimed. District magistrate Onkar Singh Meena went to the spot after being informed. He told reporters action would be taken against those who had assaulted the mediapersons.PTI
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Indians spend more time on social media than emails: Survey
Mumbai: Indians spend more time on social networking sites than on checking e-mails, a survey by an online software security company has found. The survey says an average Indian spends 9.7 hrs a week on social networking sites like Facebook and chatting on other applets, while the same for email stands at a poor 6.1 hrs. According to the survey, one in every two Indians will start showing signs of "Internet withdrawal" within the first three hours if they stay offline. A whopping eight out of ten surveyed said they cannot do without the Internet for more than 24 hrs. The survey, commissioned by Norton, was conducted in February with over 500 respondents in the 18-64 age bracket who are active Internet users. As many as 48 percent of the respondents were females. It showed online Indians spend an average of 8.4 hrs a day or up to 58 hrs a week online, which is mroe than half of their waking hours. General browsing tops the average hours spent with 12.9 hrs, which is followed by social networking (9.7 hrs), e-mails (6.1 hrs), financial activities (4.7 hrs) and uploading/downloading (2.9 hrs), the added. PTI
Congress MLA assaults senior photojournalist in Shillong
SHILLONG, MEGHALAYA: First the Mawlai legislator, Founder Strong Cajee was caught on camera taking his forty winks inside the Assembly. Next he gives a cheque to a school out of his MLA funds which bounces. Finally he punches a photo-journalist and beats him black and blue.The outrageous incident of assault on senior photo-journalist Warton Lytan by the Mawlai Congress legislator, FS Cajee.occurred at the State Assembly corridor of the temporary Assembly building at Rilbong on Monday.The reason for the assault was that his `sleeping picture' was published in some of the vernacular dailies.
The incident happened in the presence of three other legislators, namely, Metbah Lyngdoh, Remington Pyngrope and PN Syiem who were witnesses to the incident. The Congress legislator from Mawlai accosted the journalist because a photograph of the legislator was published in local newspapers showing him sleeping while the Assembly session was in progress.The senior photo journalist was severely injured in the incident and is currently undergoing treatment at the Shillong Civil Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Shillong Press Club (SPC) in an emergency meeting condemned the incident and called upon the government to initiate appropriate action against the law maker for his unruly behaviour.The SPC also filed an FIR with the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police AR Mawthoh in this connection. In the FIR, the SPC said that such brazen attacks are a blatant act of repression on press freedom and the right to freedom of expression as enshrined by the Constitution. What is even more serious is that this despicable act occurred within the confines of the Assembly thereby tantamount to the assault on the sanctity of the House itself.
Meanwhile in a counter FIR, Cajee alleged that the photo journalist hurled insults at him and used provocative language.In the FIR Cajee claimed that Lytan told him "You Stupid MLA representing Mawlai Savage Constituency". According to Cajee, he (Lytan) said these words to him without any provocation on his part.The SPC also dashed off a letter of complaint to Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma and Leader of Opposition, Conrad Sangma apprising them of the incident and urging that justice be meted out to the injured journalist and the entire media fraternity.
The incident happened in the presence of three other legislators, namely, Metbah Lyngdoh, Remington Pyngrope and PN Syiem who were witnesses to the incident. The Congress legislator from Mawlai accosted the journalist because a photograph of the legislator was published in local newspapers showing him sleeping while the Assembly session was in progress.The senior photo journalist was severely injured in the incident and is currently undergoing treatment at the Shillong Civil Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Shillong Press Club (SPC) in an emergency meeting condemned the incident and called upon the government to initiate appropriate action against the law maker for his unruly behaviour.The SPC also filed an FIR with the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police AR Mawthoh in this connection. In the FIR, the SPC said that such brazen attacks are a blatant act of repression on press freedom and the right to freedom of expression as enshrined by the Constitution. What is even more serious is that this despicable act occurred within the confines of the Assembly thereby tantamount to the assault on the sanctity of the House itself.
Meanwhile in a counter FIR, Cajee alleged that the photo journalist hurled insults at him and used provocative language.In the FIR Cajee claimed that Lytan told him "You Stupid MLA representing Mawlai Savage Constituency". According to Cajee, he (Lytan) said these words to him without any provocation on his part.The SPC also dashed off a letter of complaint to Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma and Leader of Opposition, Conrad Sangma apprising them of the incident and urging that justice be meted out to the injured journalist and the entire media fraternity.
Sri Lankan government calls journalists 'traitors'
New York: The Sri Lankan government must immediately halt its intimidation of journalists who supported the adoption of a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution calling for an investigation into the country's alleged abuses of international humanitarian law during its war with Tamil separatists.Journalists in the capital, Colombo, told CPJ they were concerned by a state-controlled media campaign against them, which called them "traitors" for supporting the U.S.-backed motion. News accounts reported that Wednesday's vote, which passed 24 to 15, with eight abstentions, infuriated the Sri Lankan government.
The BBC said that after the vote, state television launched an attack on Sri Lankan journalists, both at home and in exile, saying they were helping the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels and "betraying the motherland." The broadcaster also said that although the journalists who had participated in the Council sessions were not specifically named, Sri Lankan state television "repeatedly zooms in on thinly disguised photographs of them, promising to give their names soon and 'expose more traitors.'"
"Things are quite tense here. We've had anti-U.S. and anti-resolution protests the past few days, and now we're waiting to see who they will hit out at next," one journalist in the country told CPJ."The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has a long and alarming record of intolerance to criticism," said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator. "The international community must be extra vigilant in ensuring that Sri Lankan journalists are not subjected to reprisals for voicing their concerns to the Human Rights Council." The U.N. resolution called on Sri Lanka to investigate abuses carried out by its military in 2009, at the end of the decades-long war with Tamil separatists.
Rajapaksa's administration has verbally attacked journalists in the past in an effort to intimidate them, CPJ research shows. In a 2008 letter to Rajapaksa, CPJ voiced concern over government officials repeatedly calling journalists "traitors" in public. At least nine journalists have been murdered in the Rajapaksa era, all of them unsolved, according to CPJ data.
The BBC said that after the vote, state television launched an attack on Sri Lankan journalists, both at home and in exile, saying they were helping the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels and "betraying the motherland." The broadcaster also said that although the journalists who had participated in the Council sessions were not specifically named, Sri Lankan state television "repeatedly zooms in on thinly disguised photographs of them, promising to give their names soon and 'expose more traitors.'"
"Things are quite tense here. We've had anti-U.S. and anti-resolution protests the past few days, and now we're waiting to see who they will hit out at next," one journalist in the country told CPJ."The government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has a long and alarming record of intolerance to criticism," said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator. "The international community must be extra vigilant in ensuring that Sri Lankan journalists are not subjected to reprisals for voicing their concerns to the Human Rights Council." The U.N. resolution called on Sri Lanka to investigate abuses carried out by its military in 2009, at the end of the decades-long war with Tamil separatists.
Rajapaksa's administration has verbally attacked journalists in the past in an effort to intimidate them, CPJ research shows. In a 2008 letter to Rajapaksa, CPJ voiced concern over government officials repeatedly calling journalists "traitors" in public. At least nine journalists have been murdered in the Rajapaksa era, all of them unsolved, according to CPJ data.
Police restricts media coverage near Kudankulam nuclear project protest site
CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU: The police is not allowing live media coverage from the protest site near the Kudankulam nuclear plant.Police had earlier stopped the media from entering the site from where
protestors had been arrested over the last two days. More than 100 protesters were detained overnight on Monday. The convenor of the protest SP Udayakumar others protestors began a fast unto death
after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's U-turn on the nuclear power plant.
Seeking to end the impasse over the Kudankulam nuclear plant issue, the Jayalalilthaa government in Tamil Nadu on Monday gave the go ahead to the controversial project and announced a Rs 500 crore special
development package for the area where it is located. Jayalalithaa was earlier opposed to the nuclear power plant.
protestors had been arrested over the last two days. More than 100 protesters were detained overnight on Monday. The convenor of the protest SP Udayakumar others protestors began a fast unto death
after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's U-turn on the nuclear power plant.
Seeking to end the impasse over the Kudankulam nuclear plant issue, the Jayalalilthaa government in Tamil Nadu on Monday gave the go ahead to the controversial project and announced a Rs 500 crore special
development package for the area where it is located. Jayalalithaa was earlier opposed to the nuclear power plant.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Pakistan's First Journalism Awards ceremony held today at Islamabad
Pakistan to have its First Journalism Awards - AGAHI Awards 2012 Shaping the Future of Journalism.The AGAHI Awards 2012 to be held today at the Pak-China Friendship Center in Islamabad. Journalists from all over Pakistan join the AGAHI initiative to contribute in “Shaping the Future of Journalism”, through investigative journalism and responsible reporting.
Pakistan’s first-ever journalism awards are being organized by Mishal Pakistan in collaboration with the leading Press Clubs across the country, local and international media development bodies, regulatory authorities, private sector and other stakeholders. The AGAHI Awards have been termed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Pakistan as an important initiative towards improving the state of journalism in Pakistan.
Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer for Mishal Pakistan and a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum, shared his views on the Awards as “the AGAHI initiative is about increasing the capacity of Investigative Journalism and Responsible Reporting – which aims to use institutionalized sustainable media structures in Pakistan to raise the bar of journalistic standards”. He further said “the initiative is carried out in collaboration with the press clubs and journalists’ associations, whereby the journalist community is being encouraged to undertake the responsibility of creating such initiatives on their own”.
Pakistan lost hundreds of journalists since its inception in 1947, however the trend has been on increase since 2004, when media in Pakistan was deregulated and it saw a mushroom growth of the number of media outlets. Puruesh Chaudhary, Ambassador to Pakistan from the Center for International Media Ethics (CIME), said that “due to the lack professional trainings and capacity building opportunities, journalism in Pakistan has been confined to a few issues coming to public debate, that too at times falls short on the ethical benchmarks”.According to a survey conducted by Mishal Pakistan, the Pakistani media was perceived by the viewers to be indulging in sensationalism and unwittingly supporting the violent extremist ideologies of non-state actors operating in the region. Wajahat Ali, Media and Security Analyst, highlights the research in the context of the journalists’ lack of understanding and capacity constraints towards producing counter narrative on issues of regional and transnational security.
World Young Reader Prizes open for entries
Newspapers have until 4 May to submit entries for the World Young Reader Prizes, the annual awards from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), which recognise success in engaging the young.
The awards in five categories - 'Editorial', 'Making the News', 'Newspapers in Education (NIE)', 'Public Service', and 'Brand' - will honour newspaper companies that have devised the best projects and activities during the past two years to promote newspaper reading and usage, on all platforms, among those under 25.
Two special categories for 2012 are 'Enduring Excellence', to honour young reader programmes that have continued delivering benefits for both the newspaper and the young for at least two years, and the 'Natasa Prize for Printing Plants', for a newspaper printing plant action that teaches the young about journalism.
Judges are looking for innovative strategies that produce measurable results, particularly those that can be adapted for use in other countries. Use of multiple platforms is particularly encouraged. Entries for all categories require the creation of a PowerPoint presentation following prize guidelines. Full details and online registration can be found here.The top prize in each category is 1 000 Euros and free registration to WAN-IFRA's first Asia Pacific Young Reader Summit, set for 10 and 11 July in Bangkok, Thailand, where the awards will be presented. Judges will also choose a 'Young Reader Newspaper of the Year'.
In 2011, the Jawa Pos newspaper of Indonesia earned that honour, while the prizes in the various categories honoured 24 projects from Brazil, India, Portugal, The Philippines and the United States, among other countries. The World Young Reader Prizes are supported by Norske Skog, the Norway-based global paper producer, as part of its partnership in WAN-IFRA's Newspapers in Education Development Project.
The awards in five categories - 'Editorial', 'Making the News', 'Newspapers in Education (NIE)', 'Public Service', and 'Brand' - will honour newspaper companies that have devised the best projects and activities during the past two years to promote newspaper reading and usage, on all platforms, among those under 25.
Two special categories for 2012 are 'Enduring Excellence', to honour young reader programmes that have continued delivering benefits for both the newspaper and the young for at least two years, and the 'Natasa Prize for Printing Plants', for a newspaper printing plant action that teaches the young about journalism.
Judges are looking for innovative strategies that produce measurable results, particularly those that can be adapted for use in other countries. Use of multiple platforms is particularly encouraged. Entries for all categories require the creation of a PowerPoint presentation following prize guidelines. Full details and online registration can be found here.The top prize in each category is 1 000 Euros and free registration to WAN-IFRA's first Asia Pacific Young Reader Summit, set for 10 and 11 July in Bangkok, Thailand, where the awards will be presented. Judges will also choose a 'Young Reader Newspaper of the Year'.
In 2011, the Jawa Pos newspaper of Indonesia earned that honour, while the prizes in the various categories honoured 24 projects from Brazil, India, Portugal, The Philippines and the United States, among other countries. The World Young Reader Prizes are supported by Norske Skog, the Norway-based global paper producer, as part of its partnership in WAN-IFRA's Newspapers in Education Development Project.
Ambani 'virtually' owns 27 TV channels: Are you worried about Indian media now?
More questions....
who owns 27 Indian TV channels?who owns 27-storey home in mumbai?
who all r the Fellows of Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
who supports illegal UID/adhaar?
who runs national political parties as his own shop as per Radia Tapes?
One Answer....
Mukesh Ambani
If Mukesh Ambani's RIL has majority stake in 27 TV channels in India, does that worry you about the state of electronic media in the country? Worrying part comes later. First question is that did you have any idea about that. Secondly, can you figure out the amount of influence on Indian journalism, this can have?
Forget thinking about stories or such news reports that may hurt this huge business empire, just think of the impart of the sort of monopoly on media and its implications in future. Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) recently bought shares in Infotel, a TV consortium that controls 27 TV news and entertainment channels in almost every regional language.
This single sentence buried in a paragraph in Arundhati Roy's article, tells you a lot. Yes, Outlook can still publish her. Tehelka may do it as well and of course, the foreign publication Guardian. But where else you are going to read such a report? Mukesh's monstrous sky-scraper Antilla or his stakes in oil, gas, petrochemicals, telecom are all too well-known.
But in a country where free media has kept the democracy afloat, the monopoly over media is something that we should seriously ponder over. Media h as the power to make or break an agitation. It has the strength to bring a government on its knees and make it fall as well.
Didn't we see in the Anna Hazare agitation. Mukesh Ambani has taken his father Dhirubhai Ambani's business forward. Sorry, we are not jealous of him. Mukesh's prosperity and growth in business empire show the robustness of Indian economy and its global march.
As patriotic citizens, we do love Indian businessmen acquiring groups abroad, inking huge financial deals, their clout and influence increasing. But there is a difference when it comes to monopoly. In any sector, it is important. More critical when it comes to media.
Even if you don't love Arundhati, you must understand that it is she who can say it and it still gets published. But yes, if he has stake in 27 channels, it does worry me as a media man. And he virtually owns it as the Outlook article says. It may or may not worry you. But probably you should know it. I hope you got it, readers.
Breaking News at Lightening Fast Speed
Remember the days when your parents used to wait for the next day’s light for the daily dose of what is happening around the world and in the country? News, twenty years before, was only through the newspapers which used to reach next day. By that time the developments reached to the heights that you had to update yourself of the entire information all over again. It was after the Asian Games in 1984 and later the Gulf War which took evolution of technology in disseminating information and news to the next level. With the advent of technology the hour long news bulletin in the general entertainment channel got transformed into twenty-four hour news channels.
Top Hindi News Newspapers in India
By Lionjkt
India is the largest democratic nation in all over the world. It stands 2nd position in population around the world. A large number of Hindi Newspapers provide different types of news and different styles of news in India. Hindi Samachar is entertaining millions of people with incredible reports, events, information and gossips. You can get various types of news from all nook or corner of India. If you are looking for Hindi papers in India we recommend checking out the following:
Amar Ujala Hindi daily newspaper
Amar Ujala is a Hindi daily newspaper which was started on 18th of April 1948 from Agra, containing only 4 pages of newspaper. It had a circulation of 2576 copies with an objective of promoting social awakening and introducing a feeling of responsibility among the citizens of a recently independent India from British.
This Hindi Newspaper provides News of crime, Business News, political News, etc, from different parts of India as well as the world. Thousands of readers are getting several gossips and reports from different fields. The objective of the paper is not only disseminating information, but also as creating public education and social awareness. The paper provides various programs for reaching public to create better understanding about democratic values. It has got good position as a serious Hindi Newspaper with incredible objectives of providing big space for intellectual discussion and optimum space for development oriented stories with rural and urban basis. Amar Ujala appreciates values of democracy, socialism, secularism, social justice and human dignity. It helps to achieve enduring peace and harmony in the society.
Hindi Daily Jansatta Newspaper
Jansatta is top and one of the most leading Hindi daily in India. It belongs to the Indian Express Group, started on Nov 16, 1983. The paper is published from Delhi and Kolkata. The paper has a good readership in Hindi belt states. Prominent Indian journalist Prabhash Joshi was the founder editor of Jansatta. The newspaper is known for its sincere and courageous journalism. The newspaper publishes Indian literature, cultural environmental issues, and reviews on important events of the nation and international. Presently, Kumar Ketkar is the chief editor of the Jansatta. The paper gives all round view of life in India. Now, it is one of India’s most prominent Hindi Newspapers. The papers publish reports on regional, national, international, political events, celebrities, crime, Business News, entertainment, society and Sports News, political news etc. The newspaper contains other types of reports from different fields like Film industry, classified ads, display ads, editorial cartoons and comic strips. The paper is also available Online Hindi News.
All of the major Hindi newspapers in India offer both physical papers on the high street as well as up-to-the-minute and hard-hitting online Hindi news. If you’re looking to move to India it is vital that you know exactly what is going on in your area of choice and ensure you know exactly what you are letting yourself in for.(tirosub.com)
Spinelessness of media, iron-handedness of Nitish govt, questioned once again
Patna : Noted social activists and journalists have decried the role of media in general and during the three-day Bihar Diwas celebrations in particular. They questioned as to how the media can ignore some very important news at the cost of the government-sponsored function, in which such a huge amount of money was spent.
Taking part in a discussion on “Changing Relationship Between Media and Power” organized by the Bihar Press Freedom Movement at Patna Book Fair on Saturday evening noted journalist and BBC’s Bihar correspondent, Manikant Thakur, asked as to why is media silent on the Income Tax raids on the business and residential premises of a very close aide of chief minister Nitish Kumar. While the same media would highlight the opening of school in the house of confiscated property of any officer why nobody is today questioning from where had Vinay Kumar Sinha amassed Rs 4.5 crore and purchased 51 flats. Sinha has been the treasurer of the Samata Party and Janata Dal (United) for the last 16 years and Nitish Kumar, before becoming the chief minister of Bihar, used to stay at one of his house which too was raided on March 21-22. Manikant wondered as to what had happened to media houses in Bihar. They are busy highlighting the Bihar Diwas festival and totally ignoring the other issues and hardship related to the common men and women. |
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Boney Kapoor's first wife Mona dies of cancer
Mumbai: Filmmaker Boney Kapoor`s first wife, Mona Kapoor passed away here today, family sources said. She had been diagnosed with cancer, and was admitted to Hinduja Hospital here two weeks ago. Mona, 47, had two children from Boney - Arjun and Anshula. Arjun is set to make his debut in Bollywood with Yash Raj Films`s `Ishaqzaade`. She had recently said on twitter that she was fed up with inquiries about her health, and that she was "battling stag 3 multiple organs cancer".
Several Bollywood celebrities expressed grief over the death. "Mona kapoor was one of the most gracious, dignified and loving human beings i knew...she felt only positivity for one and all...RIP ma`m," filmmaker Karan Johar wrote on twitter. Veteran actor Anupam Kher said: "Is God feeling insecure? He is calling all good people. Very sad to know about Mona Kapoor`s death. She was a very helpful & kind lady. RIP."
Several Bollywood celebrities expressed grief over the death. "Mona kapoor was one of the most gracious, dignified and loving human beings i knew...she felt only positivity for one and all...RIP ma`m," filmmaker Karan Johar wrote on twitter. Veteran actor Anupam Kher said: "Is God feeling insecure? He is calling all good people. Very sad to know about Mona Kapoor`s death. She was a very helpful & kind lady. RIP."
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Mamata's carrots
Mamata's carrots
Of the four Trinamul Congress candidates filing their nominations for the Rajya Sabha - three are journalists (extension of Mamata's carrots to the media?) Kunal Ghosh (CEO, Channel 10), Vivek Gupta, Group Editor, Sanmarg and Md. Nadimul Haque , Head of 'Akhbar E Mashrique' Kolkata Edition. He is also the son of the owner of the Group. The fourth of course is Mukul Roy, the Railway Minister. Note that Mamata has given due representation to the Bengali, Hindi and Urdu Press. But sources say that if the party falls short of requisite votes to get all four candidates through (which seems likely now that the Congress has filed its own candidate), then it will be Vivek Gupta who will fall by the wayside as the Hindi-speaking votes are more expendable than the Bengali or Minority votes in the long run in West Bengal!
Media friendly regime?
While concluding a press conference on Monday, Mulayamsingh Yadav, with his Chief Minister-son Akhilesh next to him, told the media to tell them if things went wrong in their rule. Then instead of walking out like Mayawati was prone to - regal, abrupt - he lingered and told them, "If you have any problems, form a committee, and tell us about them. We will solve them." A new era of back-scratching?
Costly photo
Congress MLA Founder Strong Cajee flew into a vengeful rage when he assaulted senior photojournalist Warton Lytan in the State Assembly corridor. The reason: Lytan had taken a picture of him sleeping inside the Assembly which was published in the vernacular dailies. The Shillong Press Club (SPC) has condemned the attack and also filed an FIR. In the counter FIR, Cajee has claimed that Lytan told him,"You stupid MLA representing Mawlai Savage Constituency." (The Shillong Times)
Clever Mamata
Mamata Banerjee has learnt the art of pleasing the journos. To earn brownie points, the Bengal CM has announced that she will support the demand of media persons for the implementation of Majithia Wage Boards and will join the nationwide agitation on March 20 in this regard.
Rushdie interrupted
Headlines Today did a live telecast of Salman Rushdie speaking on free speech issues in India at the India Today Conclave. The last question was on what he thought of the Danish cartoons incident. Rushdie said there were two aspects to the issue, described one, and then whoosh, the next programme cut in with cricket and Sachin Tendulkar. All it would have taken was just another few minutes for us to be allowed to hear the end of what he was saying.
Opportune advertising
Kashmir's English daily Kashmir Monitor has become the first from the valley to go ahead and advertise itself in a big way. The daily's ad campaign is running on Neo Sports, which is also the host broadcaster of Asia Cup cricket being played in Bangladesh. "Well, that is what competition is all about," said Shamim Meraj, the young editor of the newspaper. (IANS)
Qualify first
Dainik Jagran conducted an online test for its reporters on March 13 at the regional level. All reporters in line for a promotion appeared for the test. It was an online test consisting of 23 questions, related to national and international issues. Reporters took the test in every state from where Jagran published, at the nearest publishing centre. The paper claims that test will bring transparency and help in the selection of deserving people. Others think that Jagran is under immense pressure to implement the wage board recommendations and wants to eliminate some from its rolls before that.
Trust the Times
Following the public release of the 1st phase census results of 2011, the following day (14th March 2012) newspapers like The Hindu & Indian Express carried headlines about how half the nation is deprived of basic amenities like access to toilets. But the ToI headline reads "200m Indians don’t own a TV, phone or vehicle". Why? For come what may the Times they are a-NOT-changin'.
Russian scribes
Russian media employees who are sick and tired of the incessant pro- and anti-government protests in Moscow have set up a Facebook group "Journalists Against Demonstrations" and are planning their own counter-event. The group's motto is: "Let Journalists Return to Their Families!" It includes correspondents from news outlets like Vedomosti and Kommersant dailies, Ekho Moskvy radio and the Polit.ru and Gazeta.ru internet portals. (IANS/RIA)
Of the four Trinamul Congress candidates filing their nominations for the Rajya Sabha - three are journalists (extension of Mamata's carrots to the media?) Kunal Ghosh (CEO, Channel 10), Vivek Gupta, Group Editor, Sanmarg and Md. Nadimul Haque , Head of 'Akhbar E Mashrique' Kolkata Edition. He is also the son of the owner of the Group. The fourth of course is Mukul Roy, the Railway Minister. Note that Mamata has given due representation to the Bengali, Hindi and Urdu Press. But sources say that if the party falls short of requisite votes to get all four candidates through (which seems likely now that the Congress has filed its own candidate), then it will be Vivek Gupta who will fall by the wayside as the Hindi-speaking votes are more expendable than the Bengali or Minority votes in the long run in West Bengal!
Media friendly regime?
While concluding a press conference on Monday, Mulayamsingh Yadav, with his Chief Minister-son Akhilesh next to him, told the media to tell them if things went wrong in their rule. Then instead of walking out like Mayawati was prone to - regal, abrupt - he lingered and told them, "If you have any problems, form a committee, and tell us about them. We will solve them." A new era of back-scratching?
Costly photo
Congress MLA Founder Strong Cajee flew into a vengeful rage when he assaulted senior photojournalist Warton Lytan in the State Assembly corridor. The reason: Lytan had taken a picture of him sleeping inside the Assembly which was published in the vernacular dailies. The Shillong Press Club (SPC) has condemned the attack and also filed an FIR. In the counter FIR, Cajee has claimed that Lytan told him,"You stupid MLA representing Mawlai Savage Constituency." (The Shillong Times)
Clever Mamata
Mamata Banerjee has learnt the art of pleasing the journos. To earn brownie points, the Bengal CM has announced that she will support the demand of media persons for the implementation of Majithia Wage Boards and will join the nationwide agitation on March 20 in this regard.
Rushdie interrupted
Headlines Today did a live telecast of Salman Rushdie speaking on free speech issues in India at the India Today Conclave. The last question was on what he thought of the Danish cartoons incident. Rushdie said there were two aspects to the issue, described one, and then whoosh, the next programme cut in with cricket and Sachin Tendulkar. All it would have taken was just another few minutes for us to be allowed to hear the end of what he was saying.
Opportune advertising
Kashmir's English daily Kashmir Monitor has become the first from the valley to go ahead and advertise itself in a big way. The daily's ad campaign is running on Neo Sports, which is also the host broadcaster of Asia Cup cricket being played in Bangladesh. "Well, that is what competition is all about," said Shamim Meraj, the young editor of the newspaper. (IANS)
Qualify first
Dainik Jagran conducted an online test for its reporters on March 13 at the regional level. All reporters in line for a promotion appeared for the test. It was an online test consisting of 23 questions, related to national and international issues. Reporters took the test in every state from where Jagran published, at the nearest publishing centre. The paper claims that test will bring transparency and help in the selection of deserving people. Others think that Jagran is under immense pressure to implement the wage board recommendations and wants to eliminate some from its rolls before that.
Trust the Times
Following the public release of the 1st phase census results of 2011, the following day (14th March 2012) newspapers like The Hindu & Indian Express carried headlines about how half the nation is deprived of basic amenities like access to toilets. But the ToI headline reads "200m Indians don’t own a TV, phone or vehicle". Why? For come what may the Times they are a-NOT-changin'.
Russian scribes
Russian media employees who are sick and tired of the incessant pro- and anti-government protests in Moscow have set up a Facebook group "Journalists Against Demonstrations" and are planning their own counter-event. The group's motto is: "Let Journalists Return to Their Families!" It includes correspondents from news outlets like Vedomosti and Kommersant dailies, Ekho Moskvy radio and the Polit.ru and Gazeta.ru internet portals. (IANS/RIA)
PuDhia Thalaimaru : New Generation television channel
A refreshing change, In just two months after its launch, an independent television news channel in Tamil gallops to number one position in viewership. It has more to its credit than merely warding off political affiliations, writes MAYA RANGANATHAN.
In television-saturated Tamil Nadu, news that Pudhia Thalaimaru (New Generation) television channel has emerged as a leading news channel in the region in about two months went largely unnoticed. In a state where television news has come to mean propaganda with political parties launching their own channels, where objectivity amounts to simply not believing any source entirely, and where sectarian interests dictate news coverage, the success of an political television channel is something to write home about.
The SRM Group launched Pudhiya Thalaimurai, with the tagline “unmai udanukudam†(truth instantaneously) in August 2011, buoyed by the success of the weekly Tamil magazine by the same name which was launched in 2009. In a press meet ahead of the launch, managing director of the group T R P Sathyanarayana had reportedly said that the channel would seek to fill the void in the regional televisionscape for a channel that had no political leanings, that provided more than film-based entertainment and that was as informative as it was entertaining targeting the youth.
At first glance, it can be said that the channel has succeeded in its aim. The success is particularly significant, as it came at a time when the only other apolitical news channel in the region, the NDTV-Hindu, launched in 2009, was floundering and had accumulated Rs. 20 crore in losses. It has since changed hands.
Perhaps, the initial success of Pudhiya Thalaimurai lies in that the SRM group chose a time when there are alternatives to the cable connection in the form of DTH (direct-to-home) television, which is of late becoming more popular owing to the 'cable war' that the DMK and the AIADMK are embroiled in. Speaking in another context, Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) chairman Sashikumar pointed out that first tussle between the DMK and AIADMK in the nineties was over the issue of establishing the huge network required for cable television. Chief Minister J Jayalalitha announcement of the setting up of Arasu Cable Corporation is a measure to combat the overarching reach of Sun TV and the monopoly Sumangali Cable Vision enjoyed in the State. It is said that more and more viewers, tired of their favourite channels being blacked out in the political war, are turning to DTH which only costs marginally more. Interestingly, the government also imposed a 30 per cent entertainment tax on DTH which has been stayed by the Madras High Court.
But Pudhiya Thalaimurai has more to its credit than warding off political affiliations. The periodic news bulletins are interspersed with talk-shows, discussions, news features, district round-ups that attempt to present information unlike the other Tamil television channels. For instance, konjam soru, konjam varalaru (A bit of food and a bit of history) traces the origin of items in the Tamil cuisine while Yuppieskku mattum illai (Not just for the yuppies) attempts youth-talk that is not contrived. Its programming thus differs drastically from that of other channels that have more or less followed the pattern set by the commercially-successful Sun TV. In terms of salary packages it offers, it is said to be competitive.
Its presenters are young, dressed neither in the formal DD style nor the “loud†style of Sun TV. They are like everyday youth that one gets to spot on Chennai roads dressed in decent casuals speaking a Tamil that is neither classical nor Anglicised. It is perhaps for the first time that Tamil viewers get to hear the news delivered in a conversational tone, devoid of the particular intonation pioneered by Sun TV, copied by other channels and parodied in Tamil cinema. The sets are reminiscent of The NDTV-Hindu where the television newsroom, complete with staff walking around, is seen in the background. Interestingly, the news team from the NDTV-Hindu seems to have relocated to Pudhiya Thalaimurai.
Its news segment also differs in terms of content and not just for the perspectives that it takes. The focus is more on social issues, which also helps it to steer clear of political leanings. Its young reporters are dressed in salwar kameez and jeans. Unlike other Tamil channels, it covers more than the regional and political and has a fair amount of information about the national and international which has so far been relegated to the English news channels. Pudhiya Thalaimurai success turns on its head the assumption that Tamil viewers are not interested in anything that is not associated with Tamil and in its attempt to redefine Tamilness.
It is, however, a little early to predict if it will set trends the way that Sun TV has. While Sun remains the undisputed leader in entertainment in the region, the success of Pudhiya Thalaimurai has had an effect on Sun TV, if sources are to be believed. It has apparently caused a rethink on Sun TV policies, including Maran dictum that it is the organisation and not the individual that should be projected. But changes, if any, are yet to become apparent.
The channel, however, is not without its detractors. Preceding reports of the channel topping the list of news channels in Tamil Nadu, there were reports that Pudhiya Thalaimurai was far from objective, the criticism stemming from the seemingly changing stand on Koodankulam nuclear plant. Its political-correctness has been seen as an attempt to offend none and appease all. It remains to be seen if it is able to tread the tightrope when faced with a crisis. After all, the SRM group has a finger in almost every business pie. It is when one of its interests is affected that its resolve to remain apolitical will be tested. Till then, it is a welcome fare for the Tamil viewers.
In television-saturated Tamil Nadu, news that Pudhia Thalaimaru (New Generation) television channel has emerged as a leading news channel in the region in about two months went largely unnoticed. In a state where television news has come to mean propaganda with political parties launching their own channels, where objectivity amounts to simply not believing any source entirely, and where sectarian interests dictate news coverage, the success of an political television channel is something to write home about.
The SRM Group launched Pudhiya Thalaimurai, with the tagline “unmai udanukudam†(truth instantaneously) in August 2011, buoyed by the success of the weekly Tamil magazine by the same name which was launched in 2009. In a press meet ahead of the launch, managing director of the group T R P Sathyanarayana had reportedly said that the channel would seek to fill the void in the regional televisionscape for a channel that had no political leanings, that provided more than film-based entertainment and that was as informative as it was entertaining targeting the youth.
At first glance, it can be said that the channel has succeeded in its aim. The success is particularly significant, as it came at a time when the only other apolitical news channel in the region, the NDTV-Hindu, launched in 2009, was floundering and had accumulated Rs. 20 crore in losses. It has since changed hands.
Perhaps, the initial success of Pudhiya Thalaimurai lies in that the SRM group chose a time when there are alternatives to the cable connection in the form of DTH (direct-to-home) television, which is of late becoming more popular owing to the 'cable war' that the DMK and the AIADMK are embroiled in. Speaking in another context, Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) chairman Sashikumar pointed out that first tussle between the DMK and AIADMK in the nineties was over the issue of establishing the huge network required for cable television. Chief Minister J Jayalalitha announcement of the setting up of Arasu Cable Corporation is a measure to combat the overarching reach of Sun TV and the monopoly Sumangali Cable Vision enjoyed in the State. It is said that more and more viewers, tired of their favourite channels being blacked out in the political war, are turning to DTH which only costs marginally more. Interestingly, the government also imposed a 30 per cent entertainment tax on DTH which has been stayed by the Madras High Court.
But Pudhiya Thalaimurai has more to its credit than warding off political affiliations. The periodic news bulletins are interspersed with talk-shows, discussions, news features, district round-ups that attempt to present information unlike the other Tamil television channels. For instance, konjam soru, konjam varalaru (A bit of food and a bit of history) traces the origin of items in the Tamil cuisine while Yuppieskku mattum illai (Not just for the yuppies) attempts youth-talk that is not contrived. Its programming thus differs drastically from that of other channels that have more or less followed the pattern set by the commercially-successful Sun TV. In terms of salary packages it offers, it is said to be competitive.
Its presenters are young, dressed neither in the formal DD style nor the “loud†style of Sun TV. They are like everyday youth that one gets to spot on Chennai roads dressed in decent casuals speaking a Tamil that is neither classical nor Anglicised. It is perhaps for the first time that Tamil viewers get to hear the news delivered in a conversational tone, devoid of the particular intonation pioneered by Sun TV, copied by other channels and parodied in Tamil cinema. The sets are reminiscent of The NDTV-Hindu where the television newsroom, complete with staff walking around, is seen in the background. Interestingly, the news team from the NDTV-Hindu seems to have relocated to Pudhiya Thalaimurai.
Its news segment also differs in terms of content and not just for the perspectives that it takes. The focus is more on social issues, which also helps it to steer clear of political leanings. Its young reporters are dressed in salwar kameez and jeans. Unlike other Tamil channels, it covers more than the regional and political and has a fair amount of information about the national and international which has so far been relegated to the English news channels. Pudhiya Thalaimurai success turns on its head the assumption that Tamil viewers are not interested in anything that is not associated with Tamil and in its attempt to redefine Tamilness.
It is, however, a little early to predict if it will set trends the way that Sun TV has. While Sun remains the undisputed leader in entertainment in the region, the success of Pudhiya Thalaimurai has had an effect on Sun TV, if sources are to be believed. It has apparently caused a rethink on Sun TV policies, including Maran dictum that it is the organisation and not the individual that should be projected. But changes, if any, are yet to become apparent.
The channel, however, is not without its detractors. Preceding reports of the channel topping the list of news channels in Tamil Nadu, there were reports that Pudhiya Thalaimurai was far from objective, the criticism stemming from the seemingly changing stand on Koodankulam nuclear plant. Its political-correctness has been seen as an attempt to offend none and appease all. It remains to be seen if it is able to tread the tightrope when faced with a crisis. After all, the SRM group has a finger in almost every business pie. It is when one of its interests is affected that its resolve to remain apolitical will be tested. Till then, it is a welcome fare for the Tamil viewers.
Ghost of paid news
Guilty as charged
The ghost of paid news has struck for real in the run-up to the Punjab elections. First, 523 cases of alleged paid were registered against candidates. Out of these 339 were issued notices. Now, in 201 cases candidates have acknowledged that they did pay for news. These candidates have agreed to add these amounts into their expenditure accounts. In 74 cases, candidates have denied the allegations and in 38 cases among these, either the candidates or the media houses have challenged the allegations. (The Indian Express)
On the wrong track
The GOI thinks its media management, rather than the quality of its governance, is the problem. A team of eleven officials from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry are in the UK for a two-week course on media management. The government sent the group to sharpen their skills at the Thomson Foundation, a leading media training agency. The officials will be learning about managing print, electronic, Internet and all other formats. (HT)
Olfactory attack
A reader writes: Last Sunday morning, Times of India readers experienced a strong odor emitted by the newspaper. It was supposed to be the coffee smell, perhaps a requirement from Bru, which had paid for the front bottom half page advertisement. However, far from smelling anything like coffee, it smelt like tobacco. Innovative advertising in newspapers is not new. In the past, readers have been given sample sachets, green tinted front pages and even heard a mini-recorder stuck to an automobile advertisement, which got activated when it was exposed to light. After the olfactory attack, I wonder what other senses are left to be exploited by the advertisers via print media.
EC detects paid news
The committees set up by Election Commission at district levels in the poll-going states to detect paid news have reported 42 cases of suspected paid news. Notices to 38 candidates have already been served among which 37 are yet to reply and one candidate has denied the allegation. No notices have been issued to any media houses allegedly involved in the reported cases. All the cases against the media have been forwarded to Press Council of India. (The Hindu)
On Sale
News X and Nai Dunia are up for grabs. A "leading broadcast network" is interested in buying NewsX. This is the second time the English news channel is on the market. Jagran Prakashan is a prospective buyer for Nai Dunia, which is also on sale. Both deals are reportedly in the second stage, with "no guarantee of buyout" by the current prospective buyers. (BestMediaInfo)
The Economist does it again
The Economist has done it again, for the third time within a year: this week's edition carried a map "showing the disputed territories" between India and Pakistan which India objects to. An email to subscribers said that the Indian Customs had seized the copies. There was no word about obscuring the maps and delivering them, for it said "they "would not be able to deliver" the copies.
SEBI on Twitter
The Securities and Exchange Board of India is hiring specialist IT officers, whose role would include keeping track of social media platforms like Twitter and blogs for all market-related information, comments and discussions. TOI reports that this is to snoop on discussions at these platforms as part of its investigation and oversight activities.
Murdered
Two Bangladeshi journalists -- a husband-wife duo -- were found murdered at their home in Dhaka on February 10. Meherun Runi was a reporter for ATN Bangla while her husband Sagor Sarwar worked for the Maasranga TV channel as a news editor, and was also correspondent for the Bangla service of German media group Deutsche Welle. Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Benazir Ahmed told Xinhua the couple were found dead in their house and the reason was still unknown. (IANS)
A notable first
The Assam Tribune Group has decided to implement the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists with effect from January this year under an agreement with its trade unions. The group, which has about 450 employees on its rolls, thus became the first newspaper to implement the award. ( PTI )
Now pesky mobile ads?
Facebook ads were only seen on computers but now Facebook will start showing ads to users on their mobile phones as well. They are supposed to begin next month. So far Facebook has done a good job of displaying ads on computers without annoying users but mobile advertising could prove be tough. The growing market of mobile internet is being seen as the reason for this step taken by Facebook. (FT, ET)
Suddenly social
The PMO is delighted with its Twitter debut. It found that the PM was trending, after Anupam Kher and Ritesh Deshmukh. A taciturn PM now has his words being tweeted as he speaks at public events, to cut the time lag ievitable if the PMO were to rely on the government's press information system. And while on the subject, it is being clarified that PM will not be following anyone on Twitter. "We lead, we do not follow."
The ghost of paid news has struck for real in the run-up to the Punjab elections. First, 523 cases of alleged paid were registered against candidates. Out of these 339 were issued notices. Now, in 201 cases candidates have acknowledged that they did pay for news. These candidates have agreed to add these amounts into their expenditure accounts. In 74 cases, candidates have denied the allegations and in 38 cases among these, either the candidates or the media houses have challenged the allegations. (The Indian Express)
On the wrong track
The GOI thinks its media management, rather than the quality of its governance, is the problem. A team of eleven officials from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry are in the UK for a two-week course on media management. The government sent the group to sharpen their skills at the Thomson Foundation, a leading media training agency. The officials will be learning about managing print, electronic, Internet and all other formats. (HT)
Olfactory attack
A reader writes: Last Sunday morning, Times of India readers experienced a strong odor emitted by the newspaper. It was supposed to be the coffee smell, perhaps a requirement from Bru, which had paid for the front bottom half page advertisement. However, far from smelling anything like coffee, it smelt like tobacco. Innovative advertising in newspapers is not new. In the past, readers have been given sample sachets, green tinted front pages and even heard a mini-recorder stuck to an automobile advertisement, which got activated when it was exposed to light. After the olfactory attack, I wonder what other senses are left to be exploited by the advertisers via print media.
EC detects paid news
The committees set up by Election Commission at district levels in the poll-going states to detect paid news have reported 42 cases of suspected paid news. Notices to 38 candidates have already been served among which 37 are yet to reply and one candidate has denied the allegation. No notices have been issued to any media houses allegedly involved in the reported cases. All the cases against the media have been forwarded to Press Council of India. (The Hindu)
On Sale
News X and Nai Dunia are up for grabs. A "leading broadcast network" is interested in buying NewsX. This is the second time the English news channel is on the market. Jagran Prakashan is a prospective buyer for Nai Dunia, which is also on sale. Both deals are reportedly in the second stage, with "no guarantee of buyout" by the current prospective buyers. (BestMediaInfo)
The Economist does it again
The Economist has done it again, for the third time within a year: this week's edition carried a map "showing the disputed territories" between India and Pakistan which India objects to. An email to subscribers said that the Indian Customs had seized the copies. There was no word about obscuring the maps and delivering them, for it said "they "would not be able to deliver" the copies.
SEBI on Twitter
The Securities and Exchange Board of India is hiring specialist IT officers, whose role would include keeping track of social media platforms like Twitter and blogs for all market-related information, comments and discussions. TOI reports that this is to snoop on discussions at these platforms as part of its investigation and oversight activities.
Murdered
Two Bangladeshi journalists -- a husband-wife duo -- were found murdered at their home in Dhaka on February 10. Meherun Runi was a reporter for ATN Bangla while her husband Sagor Sarwar worked for the Maasranga TV channel as a news editor, and was also correspondent for the Bangla service of German media group Deutsche Welle. Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Benazir Ahmed told Xinhua the couple were found dead in their house and the reason was still unknown. (IANS)
A notable first
The Assam Tribune Group has decided to implement the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists with effect from January this year under an agreement with its trade unions. The group, which has about 450 employees on its rolls, thus became the first newspaper to implement the award. ( PTI )
Now pesky mobile ads?
Facebook ads were only seen on computers but now Facebook will start showing ads to users on their mobile phones as well. They are supposed to begin next month. So far Facebook has done a good job of displaying ads on computers without annoying users but mobile advertising could prove be tough. The growing market of mobile internet is being seen as the reason for this step taken by Facebook. (FT, ET)
Suddenly social
The PMO is delighted with its Twitter debut. It found that the PM was trending, after Anupam Kher and Ritesh Deshmukh. A taciturn PM now has his words being tweeted as he speaks at public events, to cut the time lag ievitable if the PMO were to rely on the government's press information system. And while on the subject, it is being clarified that PM will not be following anyone on Twitter. "We lead, we do not follow."
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Mother Tongue Is A Fundamental Right
By Protik Bardhan
Language provides the opportunity to express oneself, in other words; language represents a state of development of a particular nation. Since time immemorial, only those sects of people are still in existence that had been able to develop their own language. Rabindranath Thakur said, language is the space through which our thoughts tread on. So, this is very important to have language of our own to ensure development of intellectual /creative faculty. This is quintessential to the development of a complete human being.
Language is the abode of culture; that is the entire scenario of a nation can be sensed in its language. The essence of our Bengali culture can be perceived from the language we have developed over the years, which is applicable for all the nations of the world. Many tribes of the world have gone into oblivion only because of the fact that they have not been able to develop their language. Or, their language has been annihilated by the colonial rulers. Some tribes in our hill tracts area are on the verge of extinction because of this fact.
Weakening a language is a very potent means to subjugate a nation. Colonial rulers did so over the years. Especially, the French colonialists vanquished the languages of many African nations and their religion too. According to African writer and cultural theorist Ngugi wa Thiong’o “…the biggest weapon wielded and actually daily unleashed by imperialism against that collective defiance is the cultural bomb. The effect of a cultural bomb is to annihilate a people’s belief in their names, in their languages, in their environment, in their heritage of struggle, in their unity, in their capacities and ultimately in themselves”.
Pakistani rulers sought to undermine our rich language and heritage just after 1947. They declared Urdu as the only state language of Pakistan. All the works of state were conducted either in Urdu/English. Even, they tried to impose Urdu/ Arabic alphabets on our language in stead of our alphabets in a bid to add Islamic aura to our language. It was a deadly onslaught on our language. If the Pakistani rulers were successful in their bid, we would not have an independent nation. The entire memory of the nation would nave been lost had our language been vanished. That is the reason why; our forefathers revolted against the Pak rulers and overthrew them finally.
Occupy Media Grows
By Shepherd Bliss
“Occupy.com, which means to occupy the commons, will go online later this month,” reported Michael Levitin, a 35-year-old founding editor of the Occupied Wall Street Journal. He spoke on March 16 at an event in Santa Rosa, California, hosted by the forthcoming Occupied Press—North Bay/Prensa Ocupada—Bahia Norte.
“We need an Occupy media to report the national and international evolution of this fast-moving movement,” Levitin observed earlier in the day at an interview in the nearby small town of Sebastopol in Sonoma County. “Tomorrow is the six month anniversary of Occupy,” which was launched Sept. 17 at Zuccotti Park in New York Cirty by Occupy Wall Street (OWS). Two weeks later its free press hit the streets.
“The main thing that Occupy.com will do is crystalize the Occupy message—make it plain, clear, and simple. We will seek to engage people and give them many options for how to get involved. We need ways for members of the 99% to participate and thus grow the movement,” Levitin explained.
Private funding has covered Occupy.com’s startup costs and a ten- person team being paid living wages for at least three months to build a complex website. “Once we get our product out there, we will use that to raise more funds. We do not plan to have ads,” Levitin explained. They will include a calendar of events and promote actions and projects, highlighting solutions.
Occupied Wall Street Journal raised $75,000 within a week to get out its first issue. “This was evidence of a hunger to have the Occupy story told,” Levitin noted. A graduate of Columbia University’s prestigious Journalism School, he was a freelancer for Newsweek, LA Times, Associated Press and other publications. “They have sold out. They tell the stories of the people in power. So we need to occupy the press,” Levitin asserted.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
New dawn after Naxalite captives in Jharkhand
By Nalini Tewari Rajput
Chaibasa: They were rape victims but there are life now changing for better time. 35 sturdy trainee girls belonging to core area of Saranda forest getting training for private security guard under Project “Rupantaran”. According to Bhanu Pratap Singh,DIG of CRPF, " We wanted to rehabilitate the rape victims so that they can lead a nice life with financial security."
The project “Rupataran” is a joint venture of 197 Bn, CRPF and Sahyog to provide security guard training for tribal girls from core area of Saranda viz Tirilposi, Digha, Reda, Raibera etc for those who are vulnerable to immoral trafficking and Naxal violence. Founded in 2004, Sahyog The Miracle Foundation (STMF) is a non-profit organisation based in Delhi, India, and focused on empowering children to reach their full potential, one child at a time.
Working in various states throughout India, the goal of STMF is to help children-who, unfortunately, have lost their parents—to break the cycle of poverty and become self-sustaining citizens of India. The emphasis is on non-institutional care for the children, with institutional care given only as a last resort. Uday Pratap Singh said the main objective of project “ Rupantaran” is to empower tribal girls by giving them opportunities of an alternative livelihood and instilling a sense of hope amongst the poor people to start visualizing for the improvement of their economic and social position to have a better future especially for their girl child to prevent them from immoral trafficking and exploitations by naxals.
After the successful completion of special operation “Anaconda” in Saranda forest last year, the district administration and MoRD, Govt. of India are gearing up developmental projects through official channel however CRPF is also involved in mitigating social evil of Naxalism through their non-governmental ways through the help of registered NGOs like STMF. Media witnessed the one hour programme by the trainee girls under the watchful guidance of their instructors provided by 197 Bn, CRPF and took stock of the present position in Saranda and the progress of their training.
Demo on Physical Training and Foot Drill apart from other cultural programmes were displayed before the audience by the trainee girls. A joint photography session along with tea and snacks were arranged by the 197 Bn CRPF in thepresence of unit officers led by Mr. Lal Chand Yadav, Commandant 197 Bn, CRPF. The whole programme was co-ordinated by Mr. Munna Singh, Deputy Commandant, 197 Bn, CRPF who is also the overall in-charge of Project “Rupantaran” at 197 Bn, CRPF.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Plight of Hindu girls in Sindh
My view point on the recent wave of forced conversion of Hindu girls is published in Pakistan's leading English newspaper Daily DAWN.
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WHILE the world celebrates International Women's Day under the theme, "Connecting girls, inspiring futures", women of religious minorities in Pakistan, especially Hindu girls in Sindh, feel humiliated with no hope. In the last couple of days in Sindh, four Hindu girls (Lata Kumari from Karachi, Rinkal Kumari from Mirpur Mathelo, Aamna Kohli from Tando Bago, the constituency of NA speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, and Aasha Kumari from Jacobabad) were kidnapped and converted to Islam allegedly at gunpoint.
Such crime has stopped the Hindu community from even celebrating their scared festivals. In the last couple of weeks, more than a dozen minor children, traders, shopkeepers and businessmen of the Hindu community were reportedly kidnapped for ransom and several families have migrated due to insecure and unsafe future of their families and businesses.
Registration of fake cases and pressure of local influential are a routine threat to them. Extortion is another crime happening and the Hindus are bound to pay this amount in different parts of the province. More than 700 families have reportedly migrated to India and Southeast Asian countries in a few months.
The Hindu community has done a lot to develop the socio-economic landscape of Sindh and Pakistan, and all their hopes are attached with the land. Today, hundreds of thousands from this patriotic community feel alienated and like strangers in their homeland. No religion has allowed its followers to convert others by force; even Islam does not allow it. Then how can its followers indulge in such wrong conduct? (ZULFIQAR HALEPOTO, Hyderabad)
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WHILE the world celebrates International Women's Day under the theme, "Connecting girls, inspiring futures", women of religious minorities in Pakistan, especially Hindu girls in Sindh, feel humiliated with no hope. In the last couple of days in Sindh, four Hindu girls (Lata Kumari from Karachi, Rinkal Kumari from Mirpur Mathelo, Aamna Kohli from Tando Bago, the constituency of NA speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, and Aasha Kumari from Jacobabad) were kidnapped and converted to Islam allegedly at gunpoint.
Such crime has stopped the Hindu community from even celebrating their scared festivals. In the last couple of weeks, more than a dozen minor children, traders, shopkeepers and businessmen of the Hindu community were reportedly kidnapped for ransom and several families have migrated due to insecure and unsafe future of their families and businesses.
Registration of fake cases and pressure of local influential are a routine threat to them. Extortion is another crime happening and the Hindus are bound to pay this amount in different parts of the province. More than 700 families have reportedly migrated to India and Southeast Asian countries in a few months.
The Hindu community has done a lot to develop the socio-economic landscape of Sindh and Pakistan, and all their hopes are attached with the land. Today, hundreds of thousands from this patriotic community feel alienated and like strangers in their homeland. No religion has allowed its followers to convert others by force; even Islam does not allow it. Then how can its followers indulge in such wrong conduct? (ZULFIQAR HALEPOTO, Hyderabad)
Irish Journalist missing in India
-CHARLIE TAYLOR
The family of an Irish man who has been missing for more than a month while backpacking in India, have appealed for assistance in tracing him. Jonathan Spollen (28), a freelance writer and journalist from Ranelagh, has not been seen or heard from since February 3rd. Mr Spollen, who has been based in Hong Kong working for the 'International Herald Tribune' until recently, was last known to be in Rishikesh, in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India.
It is thought he may have been planning on going a trek at the time of his disappearance having changed his mind about a trip to Delhi to meet up with a friend. Mr Spollen had arrived in India from Nepal in late November and was planning to leave the country by February 21st, when his visa was due to expire.
His father David Green has travelled to India to join in the search for him. Mr Spollen's mother, who last spoke to him on the day he went missing, said it was completely out of character for Jonathan to be out of contact with her for so long. "Jonathan has lived overseas for a number of years and has always been good at keeping in touch," said Lynda Spollen.
The family of an Irish man who has been missing for more than a month while backpacking in India, have appealed for assistance in tracing him. Jonathan Spollen (28), a freelance writer and journalist from Ranelagh, has not been seen or heard from since February 3rd. Mr Spollen, who has been based in Hong Kong working for the 'International Herald Tribune' until recently, was last known to be in Rishikesh, in the state of Uttarakhand in northern India.
It is thought he may have been planning on going a trek at the time of his disappearance having changed his mind about a trip to Delhi to meet up with a friend. Mr Spollen had arrived in India from Nepal in late November and was planning to leave the country by February 21st, when his visa was due to expire.
His father David Green has travelled to India to join in the search for him. Mr Spollen's mother, who last spoke to him on the day he went missing, said it was completely out of character for Jonathan to be out of contact with her for so long. "Jonathan has lived overseas for a number of years and has always been good at keeping in touch," said Lynda Spollen.
Katju to the rescue journalists?
Journalists who reported on the Karnataka Assembly porn scandal are now receiving support from the Press Council Chairman. In a letter to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker, Justice Markandey Katju defended the journalists, and urged that proceedings against the mediapersons involved should be dropped.
He said he felt such proceedings "jeopardise the freedom of the media guaranteed as a fundamental right" by the Constitution of India, and that they "seek to create an impression that it is the media which has brought the House into disrepute, rather than the MLAs involved."
One sided story?
Notices were issued to the Centre, state government and the ministry of information and broadcasting by the Bangalore High Court after listening to the PIL which argued that the electronic media did not show clips of policemen beating up lawyers at the City Civil Court on March 02. The PIL also said that the media persons involved in the incident used provocative language against the lawyers. The PIL was filed by Advocates Association of Bangalore. (DNA)
One sided story?
Notices were issued to the Centre, state government and the ministry of information and broadcasting by the Bangalore High Court after listening to the PIL which argued that the electronic media did not show clips of policemen beating up lawyers at the City Civil Court on March 02. The PIL also said that the media persons involved in the incident used provocative language against the lawyers. The PIL was filed by Advocates Association of Bangalore. (DNA)
Hostage to SP
Even as Samajwadi party leader Akhilesh Yadav was promising that goondagiri would not be allowed a 100 journalists were reportedly held hostage in Jhansi by his party's workers. The only channel to pursue the story initially was NDTV 24x7, which asked Yadav what he was going to do about the situation. Thereafter Star News scored by getting footage of the scuffle between the BSP workers and SP workers there, and the news that the journalists had managed to come out. The channel reported that in other UP towns too, such as Ferozabad and Meerut, journalists had been attacked.
Long innings
Working beyond 60 is not the norm at The Hindu; nor is it an exception. MC Sampat worked for 51 years, retiring as Senior Associated Editor at the age of 75 on Feb 28. Others too had long tenures: K Narayanan, Associate Editor - for 55 years. M Pattabiram, BS Padmanabhan, too worked for four decades and more. Now, with directors retiring at 65, employees may have to leave at 60.
On the cheap
In keeping with the high decibel, low cost tradition of its news shows, Times Now skipped doing exit polls itself and focused on analysing everybody else's exit polls. It spent its money instead on animated graphics and biggger panel line-ups than the others. Two major English news channel skipped doing exit polls, NDTV said they stayed away because it was too complicated.
Balancing act
Whatever the actual results turn out to be, News 24 got lucky with its exit polls where its own family politics is concerned. With a brother in the BJP and husband in the Congress, the channel's proprietor-boss Anuradha Prasad was able to placate both with its prediction: 55 seats each for the BJP and the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
Generous builder
Sanjay Kakade, a Pune-based builder has sponsored Rs 5 lakh in prizes to be given away by Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh to journalists correctly estimating the number of seats to be won by political parties in recent municipal elections in Mumbai. Now, according to the Times of India, he will contest for the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra as an Independent. What is the connection?
Answerable to the House?
On Monday (Feb 27), journalists in Jammu boycotted the assembly and protested against the J&K Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone's assertion that the media was answerable to the legislature. According to reports, the speaker said, Everybody is answerable to this house and later repeated " they (media) are under my control when a PDP legislator suggested that they were answerable to the Press Council of India. The context was a discussion on the National Conference demand that journalists reveal their source for a particular corruption report.
Journalist deaths: more questions than answers
Were they killed for their work? Were they involved in other, personal interests, which spilled over into their professional lives? Did their professional and personal enemies conspire to kill them? GEETA SESHU on the poor quality of investigations which have followed these deaths.
Five brutal killings of journalists in India in 28 months and in allbut one case, there is little clarity on motives, investigations, progress in the court cases or even a pattern to the deaths. Were the journalists killed for their work? Were the journalists involved in other, personal interests, which spilled over into their professional lives? Did their professional and personal enemies join up and conspire to kill them?
While the answers are difficult to come by, these questions however uncomfortable - need to be asked. By and large, journalists were known clearly by their identities as journalists and journalists organisations have stoutly resisted any attempt by police or other investigating agencies to foist other caps on them from corruption, personal enmities, even terrorism as we have saw in the Iftikar Geelani case as well as what we are now witnessing in the arrest of Urdu journalist Syed Kazmi in New Delhi on March 7.
When Sushil Pathak, senior journalist with Dainik Bhaskar was shot dead in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh on December 20, 2010, police initially put out the story that he may be been killed because of some real estate interests. It was only after sustained protests by journalists unions
as well as opposition parties that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh acceded to an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) three months after his death. It is still anybody guess as to what evidence can be collected in this lapse of time.
Pathak's wife, Sangeeta, is still clueless about the progress in investigations though she has been questioned twice.
Five brutal killings of journalists in India in 28 months and in allbut one case, there is little clarity on motives, investigations, progress in the court cases or even a pattern to the deaths. Were the journalists killed for their work? Were the journalists involved in other, personal interests, which spilled over into their professional lives? Did their professional and personal enemies join up and conspire to kill them?
While the answers are difficult to come by, these questions however uncomfortable - need to be asked. By and large, journalists were known clearly by their identities as journalists and journalists organisations have stoutly resisted any attempt by police or other investigating agencies to foist other caps on them from corruption, personal enmities, even terrorism as we have saw in the Iftikar Geelani case as well as what we are now witnessing in the arrest of Urdu journalist Syed Kazmi in New Delhi on March 7.
When Sushil Pathak, senior journalist with Dainik Bhaskar was shot dead in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh on December 20, 2010, police initially put out the story that he may be been killed because of some real estate interests. It was only after sustained protests by journalists unions
as well as opposition parties that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh acceded to an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) three months after his death. It is still anybody guess as to what evidence can be collected in this lapse of time.
Pathak's wife, Sangeeta, is still clueless about the progress in investigations though she has been questioned twice.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Tusha Mittal gets Chameli Devi award
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Dainik Jagran no.1, Bhaskar no.2
IRS Q4 2011: Top 10 Hindi dailies
The fourth quarter results of IRS 2011 indicate that six out of top 10 Hindi dailies have registered growth this quarter. There is also a change in the pecking order with Patrika surpassing Nai Dunia to acquire the No. 9 position.
India’s No. 1 Hindi daily, Dainik Jagran, has recorded an AIR of 1,64,10,000 in IRS Q4 2011 compared with 1,64,58,000 in the previous quarter and 1,63,93,000 in IRS Q2 2011. The daily had added 65,000 readers in IRS Q3 2011 and 4.83 lakh readers in Q2 of IRS 2011.At No. 2, Dainik Bhaskar has lost 2.74 lakh readers in the fourth quarter of IRS 2011. The decline of 1.9 per cent comes after an exceptional growth in its AIR in Q3 of IRS 2011. The daily had added 7.02 lakh readers in Q3 and 1.58 lakh readers in Q2 of IRS 2011. Its AIR now stands at 1,46,02,000 against 1,48,76,000 in the previous quarter and 1,41,74,000 in Q2 IRS 2011. Bhaskar had added 25,000 readers to its AIR in IRS Q1 2011.
The third most read Hindi daily, Hindustan, has held its position and seen a marginal growth of 12,000 readers this quarter. Its AIR stands at 1,20,45,000 in IRS Q4 2011 against 1,20,33,000 in the previous quarter and 1,19,85,000 in IRS Q2 2011. Hindustan had added 48,000 readers in IRS Q3 2011, 1.75 lakh readers in IRS Q2 2011 and 3.58 lakh readers in IRS Q1 2011.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Uttar Pradesh
Kamal Khan (Lucknow)
Resident Editor, NDTV India,
Contact no. 9415014140
Email: kamalkhanndtv@gmail.
Birthday: April 20
Nishant Chaturvedi (Noida)
Anchor/Executive Producer
India TV, Noida
Email: mail.nishant000@gmail.com
Blog: nishantchaturvedisworld.blogspot.in
Date of birth: September 5, 1979
Contact no. 9415014140
Email: kamalkhanndtv@gmail.
Birthday: April 20
Nishant Chaturvedi (Noida)
Anchor/Executive Producer
India TV, Noida
Email: mail.nishant000@gmail.com
Blog: nishantchaturvedisworld.blogspot.in
Date of birth: September 5, 1979
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