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Greetings!
This Newsletter from the GujaratGlobal brings to you the latest happening in the media particularly in Gujarat, whats hot and whats not , who's in and who's out , you want it and you get it here !This newsletter is about people who craft voice and image of others. It is about the real newsmakers.
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 Last month, I read an article on the Hoot about the coverage of Tibet issue. It was about so called balanced coverage of all aspects of Tibet issue. It triggered off a stream of thoughts in my mind with vivid memories.
Ahmedabad had its first ever RDX seizure, a major catch for the police in 80s. It was a lead story in Gujarati newspapers. But it was dumped as a routine item on page three in the Indian Express. Those were the days when morning meetings were taken quite seriously. Daily PM report of the newspaper was more than a routine exercise.
Night duty Chief sub was pulled up and asked to explain the blunder. He was a young man who was transferred to Ahmedabad from Chandigarh. He said that there was nothing great about it. It was quite common in north India!
I read a great edit page article about the plight of Bangladeshis. The author, a big name in journalism, was quite disturbed that these Bangladeshis were being crammed in second class coaches. More than 200 in a coach. Certainly he always traveled in AC or by air. For him the figure was indicative of inhuman treatment. Even today, in Lalu's raj where train travel is competing with air travel, a crowd on the top of the train is not a bizarre scene.
Can we have something like all aspects of an issue in a publication? Even over a period of time. By the time story appears, it passes through so many stages that such a balanced copy is not possible. Basically it is impossible. In every case we have a choice of yes and no. This reflects our preferences.
The author of the bestseller Dancing Wu Li Masters, Gary Zukav has treated this choice business very well in his book Mind of Soul written with Linda Francis. Though the reference of the book is to show the ultimate freedom of choice we have, his theory is very well applicable in every field including media.
The title of the Hoot study was quite interesting. It said something like if I had read only one newspaper. I have an article in this newsletter "What happens if you read more than one newspaper?" Read this article to know the plight of poor reader.
Friends, I have started column on books by journalists. This issue has a book by Hemendra Narayan on the Nellie massacre that took place 25 years ago and Hemendra Narayan was a witness to the trouble as correspondent of Indian Express covering elections. He brought out 60 page small book this year as the memories of the man made tragedy still haunt him.
Harshvardhan Trivedi of UNI has written a long piece on French journalist Serge Halimi who is known for his criticism of media. Read part one of the article.
And don't forget to have a look at India's unique state centric website www.gujaratglobal.com and my blog www.zerocolumn.blogspot.com
Have A Happy Reading.
With love Yogesh Sharma
Gujarat Global | |
Archive...
Did u miss out on any of the action which has taken place or want to sneak a peek again?? Here is our Archive.
Now you can find all our earlier issues here.
Archive Gallery..
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Media Masala
Reporters' T&D loss and distortion quotient!
Gujarat Secondary Education Board chairman R K Pathak is very sad. His remark about efficiency of students in learning in mother tongue has been presented by leading English daily as a comment against the brilliance of English medium students. Pathak had said that when students learn in language which is not their mother tongue, their is transmission and distribution loss in receiving the information and so their learning efficiency is lower as compared to the students learning in their mother tongue. What Pathak said is an established fact of the learning process. But what appeared in the report is something with T&D loss of Pathak's message. And so the apparent distortion quotient of the story is very high.
The reporter had probably no idea of the versatile personality of this IAS officer. Initially selected for the State Police as Dy S P, Pathak cleared UPSC to become IAS. The Chemistry of language of Pathak is very high. He is a Chemistry graduate with LLB degree. But a poet at heart. Recently, online Bharatiya Journal published his five poems in English. Pathak who belongs to Ahmedabad has also been awarded Man of Letters Award by the UN2008. Poor Pathak.
Never say... never again. Journalist
Naeem and Rafat are back in Ahmedabad after more than four years in UK. The journalist couple is trying to settle down in the old Ahmedabad. Naeem's father's loneliness brought the couple back to Ahmedabad as like most of old people Naeem's father does not want to go out of his hometown Ahmedabad. Both had worked with English newspapers before they left for UK. It was soon after 2002 riots.
They decided to buy an activa so both can use it. They tried for loan. The moment the financing agency learnt that they lived in Muslim dominated area, the company demanded higher down payment. He said it is in high risk zone.
Considering the situation, the couple agreed. The next question was about the nature of the job. The couples said with a pride, both of us are journalists. Finance Company's agent stared at them. He said that journalists are blacklisted by finance companies. When the couple argued, the man told them that they were not alone. We do not provide finance to police and politicians also.
It may sound strange, but it is true. Finance companies in general are very reluctant to provide finance to people in these three professions.
And so friends never say...never again.... journalist. You are out. The fourth pillar of the democracy with another pillar is hollow!!!!
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Hit stories of the Media Newsletter
Here is a story Kamlesh Trivedi wrote about his visit to China. Its a travelogue that gives the idea of China dealing with the problems associated with the mega event Olympic. Kamlesh Trivedi is Associate Editor of London based publication Gas Matters. Ahmedabad based Trivedi covers SA and Middle East for Gas Matters
Click here to read it .
Liquor is the biggest attraction of the defence beat. For quite sometime Liquor is not being served. Here is the story Modi, Military, Media and Mock tail
Click here to read it .
Blogging has given power to express to all. Read what is happening in the blogging powered land. Click here to read it .Dilip Patel is a reporter who stands out in the media crowd by his off beat stories.
Media to Sting or not Sting is a debatable issue. Share the views of Symbiosis Dean Ujjwal Chowdhury
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Blogosphere
LION BLOG
Saurashtra based photographer Hanif has a blog about Asiatic lions. He started the blog this year. It has interesting information about lions. He has yet to add lots of photographs of lions as Hanif says that he is still developing the blog. His family is in the field of photography for the last three generations He is with India channel for the last ten years. He lives in Amreli and Junagadh towns of Saurashtra.
To see his blog, click here. | |
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Please Note
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What would happen if you read more than one newspaper?
You will go mad. Curse the moment when you decided to read more than one newspaper .My this piece is inspired by a headline on the Hoot -what would have missed if you had read only one new newspaper. In this a journalist has compared reporting of Tibet issue in different newspapers in Delhi.
Reading newspapers today, May 22, 2008, I learnt that Ahmedabad International Airport is closed for big aircrafts. Some said that the closure is up to May 24 some gave five days period. Everybody said that there was problem with the London flight of Air India. Some said that other airlines had smaller aircrafts and so it would not affect their direct flights while some said that others had arranged for smaller aircrafts to meet the challenge. All reported the matter in good quantity. I do not know what the fact is.
Only yesterday, in one newspaper, prominent English daily, I read that there was shortage of the forms of the First Year BA on the first day. In a Gujarati Daily, again a leading one, I read that on the first day there was a great shortage of admission forms of B Ed. I am just trying to work out a formula where BA = B.Ed.
Last week Education Board decided to bar two students who were found using fraudulent means in the examination in the sensational writer scandal. In this scandal students got false medical certificates of injury to get a writer to write for them.
Some newspapers said that the students were barred for two years while some claimed that they were barred for three years. All said that they would now be allowed to appear in the examination in 2011. What is right, two or three or by some illogic trick you can make two = three. In my college days wrong logic tricks to make one = two were very popular.
Last week, Ahmedabad police caught a gang of Bangladeshi thieves. Joint Commissioner of Police Ashish Bhatia released a press note about the operation. Everyone was interested in it in view of the reports of involvement of some Bangladeshis in Jaipur serial blasts. Matter was serious to the level of the Big bosses of the newspapers.
Now see what appeared next week. Some said that it was a chance detection of a sub inspector who grew suspicious when he saw a labourer like person using costly mobile. Some said that police caught the gang on a tip off and senior police officer had passed on the intelligence to junior one to conduct the operation!
Some said that the gang admitted 26 thefts; many said that the arrest of the gang solved 28 cases. But a very prominent Gujarati daily said that the gang of three committed three dozen thefts. What a rhyme! Some said that they indulged in thefts while some claimed that they had committed robberies.
Police officers must be smiling at the ignorance of the basic law of journalists. In the court of law the two words are quite different and invite quite different punishment.
Would you like to buy this torture by reading more than one newspaper? Better be loyal to one newspaper so that at least your aberration quotient, the level of wrong perception, remains same- as of that particular newspaper.
Dear friends, I have given example of Ahmedabad just because I am based in Ahmedabad. You can do a successful experiment with similar results anywhere because we have FREEDOM OF PRESS to press the reader to lunacy. |
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Media Fraternity
Hemendra Narayan to join as COB Sakaal Times Lucknow
Hemendra Narayan will join as COB Sakaal Times Lucknow from June 1. A senior seasoned journalist Hemendra Narayan is Special Correspondent Statesman Delhi. He will look after UP. He may get Uttrakhand also.
In his own words, his 35 year long career has been a great learning exercise at others expense- the management. He started with UNI in Patna and has worked with Indian Express and other newspapers. He has worked in Patna, Gwalior, Ranchi, Lucknow, North East, and Delhi. He was in NE for five years from 1983 to 1985 and is a witness to NELLIE incident in which more than 2200 persons were killed.
In the book section we have a piece on his book.
Ojas Mehta joins Mirror
Ultimately after more than month long rumors, Ojas has finally joined Ahmedabad Mirror. He has been appointed as Special Correspondent and is presently performing the task of Chief of Bureau. He started his career with Asian Age and after two years with Mid Day in Mumbai he returned to Ahmedabad to be correspondent of Deccan herald. And now he is with the Mirror.
ANIL PATNI
Anil Patni joins TATA BP Solar, as DGM Corporate Communication and External Affairs . The company is a JV between Tata Power and British Petroleum and works in the field of Solar Energy. Earlier Patni was with EU as press advisor and has served British High Commission also.
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Mediaman Serge Halimi on media
In the latest issue of the newsletter, a mention of media books and "dens of dons-fate of press rooms" piece reminded me of a very controversial and thought provoking book by French journalist Serge Halimi "Les Nouveaux Chien de Garde". (New Watchdogs) French people have penchant for self-reference, hence they have media critiques in a very obscure language. They have websites and even journals devoted to different aspects of media theory albeit with same intellectual arrogance. (I am a Francophile and subscribe to their arrogance with a pride )
Here I have tried to give some idea of what he thinks about present day journalism France and USA . Similarities between them and us are startling. In Gujarat, mainstream academia are not bothered about what happens in media and media is equally not bothered about status of intellectual condition in the state. In France, and even in Germany, top philosophers like Pierre Bourdieu and Regis Debrey constantly review media. Regis Debrey edits an important journal on mass communication. In recent years, a number of French intellectuals and scholars, including the sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, have lamented the increased commercialism of the French media and its deleterious effects on news and public political debate.
With the Publication of Les Nouveaux Chien De garde, Serge Halimi shot into prominence in world media. In the book, he exposed the nexuses between journalists and politicians., As soon it appeared, the book created an immediate controversy in France, since it criticised certain leading journalists by name. It was the number one bestseller in France for many weeks and has since been translated into several languages. It sold over more than 150,000 copies. Later , he even questioned media's relation with corporate world. He demonstrated how a small group of 'permanent spokespersons" prescribe the opinion.
He categorise different beats of press as "journalism of reverence or sycophancy" (PUC in Gujarati?), "journalism of connivance", "journalism of market". (umbrella term for all these categories should be our very own CBD, I suppose! Even Gujarat Vidhan Sabha had to sit up and gloss over it!) . Whether you are in India, Europe or any other country, when you read this book, you have a sense of deja vu ("aisa tau hamare yahan bhi hota hai!")
Serge Halimi is one of the editors of the French monthly Le Monde Diplomatique, where he covers political, cultural and economic events in the USA, and at the same time he writes about media and journalism related issues. Halimi with his wonderful examples, doesn't only illustrate friendly connections between politics and the leading journalists, which is especially present in France, but exposes almost "incestuous" relations between the leading French journalists themselves. Halimi describes how they interview each other, invite each other to TV or radio shows as guests, or review each other's books. He shows how this vicious circle of the like-minded "independent" journalists depends above all on one single thing, and takes the reader into the background of the relationships between the "watch dogs" and their owners, that are nowadays far more dangerous to the contemporary journalism than the political ones. His book is an example of an analysis of how propriety or capital influence the reports of the media.
In "Market Journalism, or The Best News That Money Can Buy"- Whereas journalists have traditionally viewed themselves as members of a fourth estate that checks entrenched power and gives voice to dissent, Serge Halimi contends that the new global media has lost its independence and now in fact enhances corporate power and stifles democratic opposition. The business mentality of the new media has created a cozy alliance between the economic elite and leading journalists, such that the latter have become loud advocates for the former, especially on issues such as taxes, trade, regulation, etc. Abandoning their autonomy for the sake of pure profits, Halimi argues that our newsmakers can no longer be entrusted to serve as watchdogs for democracies.
( In the next issue we will have some excerpts from Halimi's famous article "Journalism Du Racolage" ( racolage-soliciting, touting)
Harshvardhan is with the UNI Ahmedabad. He has worked in UK for four years and for sometime in France.
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About A Book
25 YEARS ON...NELLIE STILL HAUNTS
Hemendra Narayan writes about his own book
The main piece of the story is more of personal impression of the author, than a hard news story by a professional. Hemendra Narayan, the journalist -- who more by instinct than design -- becomes a witness to the terrible mayhem of February 18, 1983, in central Assam. The traumatic incidents at Nellie still haunt him, and it comes out unmistakably in the chapter - Woman in the Green Sari. The woman, who had seen death all around and escaped, produced a 'surreal scream'; he says -- and adds, "The horrific images are still stuck in my mind."
The magnitude of death and destruction that unfolded before him in an open clear picturesque setting - they were three media persons - would have overwhelmed anyone. It was an eerie setting because of the 'kill-burn-slay' psychology of the hundreds of armed men.
The February 1983 Assembly elections were held to fulfill a Constitutional 'obligation'. The logic was that the polls could not be stopped because the President Rule could not be extended beyond one year, and that deadline was fast approaching. The supporters of movement against 'foreign' nationals were not only boycotting, but opposing the elections aggressively as well.
As the election(s) process got going, "It was a strange scenario across the Brahmaputra valley -- right from Dhubri to Dibrugrah; depending on the population profile -- the killing lust had surcharged the atmosphere," the slim publication says in its preface.
The toll around Nellie villages officially stood at 2,191.
The booklet, apart from being of interest to journalists even 25 years on -- should be of relevance to the students of contemporary history. Some of the documents used helps in understanding the overall situation in proper perspective. The documents in the publication, which includes that of the Lalung Darbar, the Election Commission and the report of the non-official Justice Mehta Commission, would be of great significance for some one, studying the period.
B G Verghese, doyen of Indian journalism -- who has a special interest on the affairs of the North-East, says in his foreword remarks, "India must care and ponder over what happened, and we must all learn our several lessons as distinctive groups, wider communities, the Government..."
Kuldip Nayar released the book. He was ENS chief at that time and BG Verghese was the Editor of IE. He is the author publisher of the 60 page book priced Rs 80
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Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.
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Albert Einstein
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With Love,
Yogesh Sharma
GujaratGobal.com
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