Mangaluru, Nov 21: “Media today seems to have lost control. It has become an industry which works for business, circulation and TRP. Very rarely do we come across media houses that strictly follows journalistic principles,” said Mangalore University, MCJ Department HOD Professor Dr G P Shivaram.
He was speaking at the seminar, ‘Whether media needs curbs’ at Sandesha Kalabhavan on Tuesday, November 21. The programme was organised by Sandesha Foundation and Media Alumni Association of Mangalagangothri (MAAM), Mangaluru.
“Indian media enjoy freedom but are not independent. This issue needs to be pondered and discussed. Media today is polarized because of political, religious and corporate affiliations. This leads to bias while covering news. Though all are not biased, the opinion of people about media in general affects journalists who are on the right track,” he added.
“When Mumbai was attacked by terrorists, some channels started live coverage which went continuously up to 60 hours. They covered everything from the army personnel’s movements to strategies. People who watched this news did not gain anything much. However the enemies who were targeting our country got a clear plan about the army’s strategies. Even for once the media channels did not think that the coverage is helping the enemy and national security is at risk,” he said.
“There is a need to give people a chance to point out the faults of the media. Realisation and correction will help one to become an ethical journalist,” he opined.
Presiding over the programme, Sandesha Director Fr Vijay Victor Lobo said that people want media to become the mirror of the society. “Media should reflect things which are useful to the society and help in correcting the society and system. Media should be helpful to the judiciary and executive. It should uphold the democratic rights of the citizen,” he said.
Sandesha aims to promote quality journalism and every year it is conducting journalism courses for aspirants. This seminar aims to start a healthy debate and discussion among journalists, he said.
Senior journalist Chidambara Baikampady was felicitated by the dignitaries.
Advocate Santosh Peter D’Souza, Activist Dinesh Holla, Media Thinker Fr Richard D’Souza, MAAM President Balakrishna Holla and others were present.
