Tribute to KEE

When his nephew flashed a message that Prof Eapen was critically ill in August 2009, a few of us rushed to see him in the hospital. By then his critical faculties to recognise us had failed. Little more than a year later, on October 23, he breathed his last. The Hindu carried an obit on the national page. Prof K.E. Eapen (KEE) was a distinguished communication scholar and educator and former vice president of the International Association for Mass Communication and Research (IAMCR). To many of us, our association with him began when he set up the Department of Communication at Bangalore University in 1973. Although Journalism was formally incorporated into universities by then, moving beyond and establishing a broader process oriented multi disciplinary subject was his achievement. Fighting through the system, KEE has the credit for seeding and crystallising a separate subject panel for Journalism & Mass Communication in UGC. Such formative attempts have enabled the subject to grow and transcend the initial lukewarm response of media professionals and media institutions. Communication to KEE was a science and hence he was keen on labelling our degrees in the broader science framework while fighting for and establishing a separate faculty of communication in Bangalore University. Detractors continued to battle this approach while adopting the essential features of what the subject required. Those were the days when there were only few professors in the subject and they became responsible for assessing and according approval for starting departments in various universities. However, they could not address the systemic neglect of the departments by way of adequate resources. Thus when the subject panel was institutionalised in the UGC, part of the benefits included recognition that certain essential support systems were needed including faculty to run the programmes. With his background at Hislop’s college Nagpur and formal degrees from Syracuse and Wisconsin, KEE brought to the subject a contextual sensitivity. When the now historical SITE was being planned and executed, he exposed us to the nuances of technological determinism and rigor that was needed to evaluate deployment of satellite technology for delivering television. His long inland letters to us in the field were both instructional and raising questions. I still remember my stay in the villages where for various reasons television was not working or not kept in place at the designated time. Television centric as I was I wrote to him asking to be deployed elsewhere. Perceptive as he was he wrote back saying that the purpose of the study is not just television but to understand a whole lot of other factors for such community initiatives. I stayed back to develop better insights. My constant exchange of views continued. In 1991 we worked together on a collaborative project on Journalism and communication education in SAARC intended to assess and promote production of text books in the subject. His classes were rather brief but full of queries that initially made us suspect that he was merely passing the buck. Not used to focused reading, he inspired us to study articles and papers that would help us respond successfully to our questions. Widely travelled and networked he provided leads to many scholars and professors in various other universities to many of us quite keen on pursuing higher studies. The network of scholars engaged in political economy of communication opened up with one introduction he gave to Prof. Bill Melody. Travel abroad was quite difficult those days and in the absence of liberal bank loans and restricted foreign exchange our approach to higher studies had to be focused and aimed at getting scholarship or aid. References from KEE helped us to directly correspond with academics and work towards our research goals. He formally retired from university service in early 1980s but continued his professional association with national and international associations in the discipline. His regular reflections on media and communication issues have appeared in publications such as the Hindu, Deccan Herald and the Frontline. He kept in touch with his students and friends with snail mail (hand written) and looked forward to constant updates. His involvement with local institutions has lead to a demand from the local citizens that a park be named after him. He lived by himself with visits from his students and by numerous nephews and nieces who took good care of him. KEE wanted a perfect institutional mechanism for communication education. Mechanism that would constantly contribute its alumni to the media and academic world and a flourishing active publishing in scholarly and peer reviewed journals. He was untiring in his laments as far as status of media education and training was concerned: The U.S. thrust has continued into the 1990s. The Indian educational level has risen to graduate programmes and Indian scholars settled in the States also now come under the Fulbright umbrella, with no radical departures from the Singh and Wolseley days. Even the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, established in 1965, was conceptualised by the Wilbur Schramm Team of American experts. Despite its 25 years, the Institute has not been able to enrich indigenous scholarship very much. India has strongly articulated during the 1970s for a New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO), but had taken little follow-up action in the academic aspects of education in communication. Arguments for a new order had to be accompanied by efforts at the grassroots level of professional instruction. University approaches still remain rather frozen at the pre-NWICO stage. Course contents have not substantially changed, nor the books used in support of undergraduate and graduate courses. This is not a specifically Indian lacuna. The SAARC region, of which India is an important component, suffers from the same maladies. The need for books to reflect national realities has not been met. Most books in use are in English, and the American orientation persists. It is not argued here that there is anything intrinsically wrong with them but the point is that foreign books are produced for foreign purposes and not for India or Pakistan. While lamenting the lack of such avenues in India he would constantly urge and work towards creating such bodies. The Indian Council for Communication Training and Research (ICCTR) was his idea and he spent considerable energy in formalising it. However, call it apathy or lack of appreciation we were not able to sustain it and that was a complaint he had against us. Dormant as it is, its revival may perhaps be one way of honouring his memory and contribution. He invested his meagre resources and initiated a periodic lecture series. Justice Thomas, UR Ananthamurthy and UR Rao are among the eminent persons who have delivered lectures under this initiative. Occasionally he used to converse about his hardships, getting away from Kerala, life in Hyderabad, the glory of Hislop college days, Wisconsin and Syracuse days and his friends, the high and the mighty he knew and had occasionally used to get his way for developing institutions. His large collections of books and conference papers have been gifted to a local library and he always used to refer to a large collection of papers and correspondence that told several stories. He was a mentor to VOICES, an NGO working in the area of media advocacy and social change for some time. VOICES were also instrumental in establishing one of the first community radio initiatives in Buddukote, Karnataka.  His views on communication education entitled, “Communication: A discipline in distress” raised several questions and also became a rallying point for charges and counter charges. A rare honour was bestowed upon him by two students and several scholars when they published a widely reviewed book in his honour  entitled, “Looking Inwards...essays in honour of KEE” in 2001. The Karnataka government bestowed upon him its highest civilian award, the Rajyotsva award in 2005. Kaarle Nordenstreng, a leading scholar in Professional education at the University of Tampere in Finland refers to KEE as a “milestone colleague of media scholarship as well as in the IAMCR family His participation in IAMCR started in the 1970s and throughout the 1980s he was involved in the Professional Education Section and its ‘textbook project’ where he was in charge of India & SAARC countries.” Prof UR Ananthamurthy while reflecting on his association with KEE recalled his Eapen Endowment lecture on storytelling.  Kuldip Nayar and late HY Sharadaprasad are among the noted media personalities who respected his work and interest in communication and media education. Kuldip Nayar in a separate communication for another purpose said: “KEE is father of Journalism schools in India. Even after giving 50 years of his life to this field, he continues to pursue his dream to make journalism schools a place where the basic values of the profession are imparted...” To many of his friends and students his death is no doubt a loss. But in a way he was liberated from the condition he was in. For an active person to be bedridden and not be able to engage in mental activity is perhaps not the best condition. We all felt it when we used to see him. He willed his inheritance and earnings to the cause of institutions working for empowerment of the needy. To us he has bequeathed knowledge, understanding and critical abilities to work through the maze of developments affecting our world and the role of communication and media. Thank you KEE, nay sir.  Prof B.P. Sanjay was KEE’s student during 1974-77. Since then he was engaged in exchange of ideas and collaborative research work with him. Several other students & scholars are contemplating suitable ways of honouring the life and contributions of KEE through scholastic endeavours. There may be others known to him with similar ideas. Please contact bpssn@uohyd.ernet.in to facilitate our efforts  Sourced from: http://thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=4905&mod=1&pg=1&sectionId=9&valid=true

Communication Scholar K E Eapen is no more

K.E. Eapen, a pioneer in journalism and communication education in the country, passed away in Bangalore on Saturday morning. He was 87.

Professor Eapen was actively associated with journalism for over 50 years, having set up three university departments of journalism and communication, and many organisations connected with the field. Besides teaching journalism, he also served on policy-making bodies and authored books on communication.

Professor Eapen was the first convener of the University Grants Commission (UGC) panel on mass communication, and the first UGC National Lecturer and Emeritus Fellow, Journalism/Communication. He served as consultant, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Vice-President, Commonwealth Association for Education in Journalism and Communication; and Vice-President, International Association for Media and Communication Research.

Professor Eapen was a pioneer in identifying the significance of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) and initiated a SITE evaluation study in the Karnataka cluster in 1975-76 when the nation experimented with satellite technology in taking developmental messages to the underdeveloped areas. Dr. Eapen was recently honoured in New Delhi with the “AMIC Asian Communication Award.”

H.Y. Sharada Prasad, adviser to the former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, who wrote the foreword to Dr. Eapen's book “Critical Issues in Communication: Looking Inward for Answers,” described him as “one of the most distinguished communication teachers and analysts in India” who shaped two generations of communication practitioners.

National Conference on Ethical Issues and Indian Media at Salem

 Dr V Natarajan has sent in the following announcement:

 

National Conference on Ethical Issues and Indian Media

Nov 26 & 27 2010

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Periyar University,  Salem, Tamil Nadu

In association  with Association of Communication Teachers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry 

A two day conference on Ethical Issues and Indian Media is being organised to provide an opportunity for journalism and communication teachers and students to explore issues related to media content vis a vis their ethical dimensions and implications. Research and review articles are invited on the following themes. 1.News vs Paid News 2.What Ails Television Journalism: Political Ownership or Corporate Ownership? 3.News and Views: Blurring/Non-existent Boundaries of Content Categories 4.Fiction as News and Propaganda as 'Truth' in Contemporary Vernacular Newspapers 5.Invasion of Privacy: Bloodied Victims of Accidents and Murders in News Photographs 6.Caste, Religion and other Markers of Conflict of Interests in Journalism 7.Inter-Media Rivalry and News Blackouts 8.The Implications of Cross Media Ownership for Audience, Democracy and Civil Society 9.Let the Players Decide the Rules: Ethical Issues in the Absence of a Modern Media Regulatory Framework 10.Culture and Language Specific Ethical Issues in Tamil Nadu/South India 11.Western and Eastern Approaches to Media Ethics 12.What Ails Vernacular Versions of Investigative Journalism? 13.Case Studies of Ethical Violations by National and Local Media: Kargil War, Mumbai Blasts, Gujarat Riots, Nitahari Murders, Nithyanada Video etc., 14.The Kantian/Thiruvalluvar's Philosophy of Ethics and Media 15.Indian Media's Coverage of Srilankan Tamil Genocide: The Ethical Downsides of Propaganda as News in Tamil and English News Media. 16.Privacy Issues and Sting Journalism 17.The Ongoing Politics of 'Little Magazines' in Tamil: Ethics Gone Astray? 18.Stars, Fans and Tamil Cinema: The Ethical Violations in Tamil Popular Culture 19.Ethical Issues of Neighbourhood/Downtown Newspapers, Citizen Journalism and Other 'Alternative' Variants of Mainstream Journalism 20.Ethical Issues in Online Journalism

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Important Dates:

Submission of Abstracts and Letter of Willingness to Attend : Oct.25, 2010

Note of Acceptance/Non-Acceptance from the Organisers : Nov 01,2010

Submission of Full paper (hard and soft copies) : Nov 15, 2010

Note: Papers submitted after these dates will not be considered. Papers will be subject to the process of peer review. APA is the preferred citation style. A select list of papers will be published after the second blind peer review.Abstracts shall not exceed 250 words and papers shall be in the range of 4000-6500 words.

Registration fees:

Teachers, media practitioners, conference participants : Rs 1,000

Submission of papers only without attending conference : Rs 500

Members of ACT-TNP (to be paid to ACT-TNP) : Rs 750

Stipendiary research scholars : Rs 750

PhD and MPhil research scholars [non stipendiary] : Rs 500

Master and Bachelor programmes' students : Rs 300

Dr V Natarajan

Organising Secretary

National Conference onEthical Issues and Indian Media
Nov 26 & 27 2010

Professor and Head

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

Periyar University, Salem 636 011 Tamil Nadu India

e-mail: vainatarajan@gmail.com

Seminar in Mumbai on Journalism in India: From Mission to Profession - 1947 to 2010

Prof Mangesh Karandikar, HoD, Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Mumbai, has announced the following

National Seminar on

Journalism in India: From Mission to Profession - 1947 to 2010

November 18 and 19, 2010 in Mumbai

Academic support by – Prof Ram Mohan Pathak, Dean, M.M. Malviya Institute of Hindi Journalism, M.G. Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi.

CALL FOR PAPERS IN ENGLISH/HINDI/MARATHI

The themes are as under:

The theory and practice of ethics in journalism are reflected in ways that journalists go about the doing journalism. Journalism is shaped by the relations of power and by the institutional priorities within the organizations that employ them. These relations and priorities are not in equilibrium, but exist in an ongoing state of conflict that lead to journalism rules emerging from constantly evolving practices. The actions of journalists thus are constrained and defined by concrete real-life situations. One significant real-life situation is the transformation of journalism from being a mission to becoming a profession.

Theme 1
The real-life situations in which journalists are doing journalism in India has changed dramatically over the years. This first section will deal with the following question –

What are the key social, political and economic events/people that shaped journalism theory and practice during these years?

Theme 2

Journalism is an important player in the public sphere. It offers a platform for playing out conflict, consensus and confluence thus constantly shaping and re shaping the power structures within society. However, as media pervasiveness increases, journalism itself becomes a player and a power structure competing with other structures in society. Instead of providing a platform it becomes an ingredient of the power game.

How has the position and role of journalism in the public sphere changed? How has this affected narrative and representation of identity and social justice?


Theme 3

The public sphere stands on two important pillars – commerce and public participation.

Has the degree of dominance and influence that each exercises over the other changed? How has this affected journalism?

Theme 4

Convergence of media technology is shaping media, content, audience and media organizations.

How has television changed journalism? How will convergence change it further?

 Theme 5

What are the factors that will shape the power relations, the institutional priorities and thereby the journalism ethic of the future?

GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
1. A soft copy of your manuscripts should be submitted and should not ordinarily exceed 5000 words. They must be typed with double spacing and a margin of 1.5 inches on both sides to facilitate editing.
2. Articles which are published should not be reproduced.
3. Wherever copyrighted material is used, the authors should be accurate in reproduction and obtain permission from the copyright holders if necessary.
4. Papers submitted or presented in a seminar must be clearly indicated at the bottom of the first page.
5. Notes and references should be consecutively numbered and presented at the end of the article, and not at the foot of each page.
6. The articles can fall into any one of the above themes. Please indicate the theme clearly at the top of the paper.
7. The following format should be used for referring books, articles in journals. Etc. in the reference: Tawhney, R. H. (1984), Religion and Rise of Capitalism, New York: Penguin Books. Das, Jitendra Kumar (2002). “Responding to Green Concerns: the Roles for Government and Business” Vikalp, Vol.27, No. I, pp3-19.
8. Present each figure and table on a separate page. All tables must be consecutively numbered using Arabic numerals with appropriate titles.
9. Write numbers in figures (rather than words) for exact measurement and series of quantities, including percentages. Use thousands and millions rather than lakhs and crores.
10. Book review must contain the name of the author and the book reviewed place of publication and publisher, date of publication, number of pages and price.
11. A brief resume of the author/s should accompany the research articles.

12. Fees are as follows:
Submission of manuscript for Peer Review :Rs.500/-
Participation in the seminar Rs.1500/- (which includes stay on the seminar dates in the ICSSR Guest House and food). Those participating in the seminar will have to arrange for their own transport to and from Mumbai.

13. The fees should be paid in form of a Demand Draft in the name of The Finance and Accounts Officer, University of Mumbai.

Abstracts of Research Papers / Articles approved by the peer committee shall be printed after the seminar and a copy sent to all the participants and to authors/researchers whose papers are approved.

14. All manuscripts should be addressed to:

The Head,
Department of Communication and Journalism,
University of Mumbai,
2nd floor, Health Centre Building,
Vidyanagari, Kalina,
Santacruz East, Mumbai 400 098.

E-mail: seminar@mcjmumbai.org
Website: www.mcjmumbai.org

All papers will be single peer-reviewed by a blind jury.


Schedule
Day I
Registration 9.00 to 10.00 AM

I Session : 10.15 AM to 12.00 Noon
Inaugural session

Chairman Dr. Rajan Welukar, VC, University of Mumbai

Key note speaker Prof Ram Mohan Pathak

Chief Guest Prof B.K. Kuthiala, VC, MCRPV University, Bhopal


Coffee Break :- 12.00 to 12.30

II Session 12.30 to 2.30

Subject :- Political events & legendary missionaries :- That Shaped Indian Journalism - (1947-2010)
(Special mention of Shri Baburao Vishnu Paradkar)

LUNCH BREAK – 2.30 TO 3.30


III Session :-3.30 TO 4.30
Paper Presentations
Theme 1
4.30 to 5.30
Theme 2

Paper presentation - "The changing role of journalism in the public sphere effects on narrative and representation of identity and social justice"
- TEA


DAY II

IV Session :- 9.30 to 10.30
Paper Presentations
Theme 3

COFFEE BREAK 10.30 to 11.00

11.00 to 12.00 Theme 4

12 to 1 Theme 5

Lunch Break 1 to 2 pm


VI Session : VALEDICTORY : 2.00 PM onwards.

ICSSR-Funded National Conference on De-westernising Media Studies in Tezpur

Dr C.S.H.N.Murthy, Associate Professor in Mass Communication and Journalism,

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tezpur University, Napaam, Tezpur Assam 784028 has mailed me the following:

Our Department has organised a ICSSR-funded National Conference from Nov 26-28, 2010 at Tezpur, Napaam. The theme of the conference is

Research Methodology in Journalism and Mass Communication
De-westernising Media Studies

Concept of Theme

The need to hold a national level conference on the research methods to be pursued in journalism and mass communication in Indian universities and institutes has been felt for long. The reasons for such a feeling are not too far fetching. Firstly, many scholars in India who are into research/teaching of journalism and mass communication, either pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D or guiding others for M.Phil/Ph.D, are not in a position to publish their work in peer reviewed  international or national journals due to several reasons. One reason being that the Western scholars, who do peer reviewing of Indian scholars’ research work (when submitted to international journals), do not have any grasp on the kind of research problems and research questions which the Indian scholars find appropriate/relevant to the Indian media studies. Secondly, these research papers may suffer from the lack of ‘international references’ within which the peer reviewers expect the ‘research work in question’ and ‘methods’ to be situated. Thirdly, in Western media, there may not be problems or research questions which are identical to the Indian media issues as the cultural differences between India and the US or Europe are vast.
Further, there has been a lingering feeling among Indian research scholars/ Professors, guiding research scholars for M.Phil and PhD programs in media studies, that they have been compelled to follow the Western methods of media research though India, by virtue of its varying cultures and enormous diversity, offers a vast landscape, rather to say ‘mediascape’ in the words of Professor Appadurai, to develop research methods appropriate to native cultures. All this contributed either overtly or covertly to shroud the quality of research wok being pursued in journalism and mass communication departments in Indian universities/institutes.

Further, some scholars in India, trained in the US/UK, believe that Indian research in journalism and mass communication lacked in the ‘rigors of methodology’ to be acceptable as a standard work compatible with western methods (such as quantitative techniques as one can put it politely) of research into media studies. Therefore a lot of research work being carried out under M.Phil/Ph.D programmes in India goes unreported in any peer reviewed journals of repute such as Media Asia, Asian Journal of Communication (published by NTU, Singapore) or Global Media and Communication (published by Sage) .  Some of the reviewers’ of these journals clearly show a western bias in their ‘peer review’ comments.

In fact, long ago J.S.Yadava (1980) proposed a research method called ‘Sadharanikaran’ to study the issues related to Indian media research.(Yadava, J.S. (1987). Communication in India: The tenets of ‘Sadharanikaran’. In D.L. Kincaid (Ed.), Communication Theory: Eastern and Western Perspectives, pp. 161- 171. San Diego, CA: Academic Press).

In the last 18^th AMIC (Association of Media Information and Communication) International Conference held in New Delhi last year (Oct 17-19, 2009), many eminent speakers such as Professor Epem and Professor Binod C Agarwal exhorted the need to develop research methods in media studies relevant to the Indian national and regional contexts. In fact Professor Epem and Professor Kiran Thakur even argued for focusing research on ‘regional media’ than on ‘national media’. Both of them expressed the view that ‘the eagerness of the media scholars and their supervisors to focus research on national media or mainstream media’ is marginalizing the importance of ‘regional media’ which in fact is churning out more content in different formats than the mainstream media.

The need for having an indigenous research methodology for media research (-ers) in India is not an exclusive view held by a few of Indian scholars. James Curran and Myung Jin Park in their famous work ‘De-westernizing Media Studies’ (2000 Routledge) makes the case that the study of media should strive to extricate itself from ethnocentric perspectives, essentially western in orientation and hue, and seek-as Curran says in his ‘Introduction: Beyond Globalization Theory’-to broaden ‘media theory and understanding in a way that takes account of experience of countries outside Anglo-American Orbit.’ (Watson J:Media Communication-An Introduction to Theory and Practice. 2^nd edition. 2003). Prof.Daya Kishan Thussu of University of Westminster, London and Prof.Indrajit Banerjee of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore were a few more eminent speakers who advocated the need to ‘de-westernize the media studies’. (D.K. Thussu: 13-31, 2009) and recourse to local paradigms.

There are several laterals to this complex but highly important issue. Firstly, media scholars of European countries have abandoned rather rejected the quantitative methods of Professor George Gerbner in media research (Divina Frau-Meigs: Media Regulation Self-Regulation and Education in Ed. Cecilia von Feilitzen and Ulla Carlson  in ‘Promote or Protect?’ , p27: 2007).

Most of the scholars in the Europe pursuing research in media studies are pursuing qualitative communication research techniques (Euro-Atlanta Model of Research) and yet could manage to produce high standard research work worth publishing in international journals.  They formed their own regional (among European nations) and national level (country wise) editorial teams and journals (e.g. Nordicom Journal Edited by Ulla Carlsson, Romanian Journal of Journalism and Communication edited by Raluca Radu, Quaderns del CAC Edited by Montilla Castillo Silva, Journal of Communication Studies Edited by Joao Carlos Correia, etc), which gained the international acceptance both at the level of international and national conferences/publication of journals and papers. 

Though India is ten times larger than the European Union, we have not yet developed a national level body of eminent media scholars from different universities to constitute an editors panel for a national level peer reviewed journal/conference. In fact such media scholars’ panels could be constituted even region wise also for different peer reviewed media journals and peer reviewed conferences.  Nor we are in a position to formulate a national level consensus on relevant research methods to be pursued in media research. As a result of this, most of the media research, barring a few, is not getting published in any international journals.

The present conference is therefore very much pertinent at this time to invite eminent media scholars and Professors together with media academics and professionals to discuss the issues-identified under sub-themes given below, threadbare as to why we, in India, are unable to identify appropriate research methods relevant to Indian media studies at the height of the campaign emanating from elsewhere calling for ‘de-westernizing the media studies’. Such a discussion and consequent emerging consensus not only lead for an introspection of the quality of research work being pursued in Indian media studies but also pave the way for formulating national standards in research on media studies.

The conference, further, expects to form a panel of editors to establish a peer reviewed international journal with the collaboration of Sage or Taylor and Francis (Routledge) from India side. It also engages a debate on the need to bring a consensus among the media scholars and Professors as to the relevance and necessity to follow the quantitative techniques involving distributive statistics in the media studies. It also acts as an important platform to discuss as to how the media scholars have to overcome the lack of ‘reference materials’ which would have otherwise placed their work in international situation/broad scenario.

At present there is a great dearth of ‘reference materials’ for researching on Indian media issues as also on different/diverse cultural aspects of India. Most of the ‘reference materials’ available in India are largely published in the West on Western media issues, and therefore, may not be relevant in terms of ‘research methods’ we need to follow in respect of Indian media studies. For instance an analysis of Indian reality shows can not be based on the reference materials or published works produced by the British or the US media scholars on the reality shows which are shown in Britain or the US. In fact the Western research approaches to the Internet content or social networks cannot be applied to Indian social networking as our social networking has a different cultural ethos and limitations of content.

The conference, therefore, proposes to lay out  unambiguous terms for initial normative research in different fields of media studies in India without relying first on any bulk ‘reference materials’ or ‘previous literature review’. After a few years of publishing such works, perhaps, Indian scholars could develop ‘reference materials’ relevant to the Indian media studies.

The conference therefore would like to deliberate on the above theme with the following sub-themes in the form of paper presentations and panel discussions during the three days of the conference.

Sub-themes

1.       What could be de-westernizing media studies and how to use it in terms of the following research areas? Content analysis, Analysis of Rhetoric and Whistle blowing with reference to survey methods and triangulation methods, ethnographic studies, etc.

2.       What could be the theoretical frame works sufficient enough to examine local paradigms such as Regional Print/Electronic Media –Comparative studies on format, structure, web and hard copy selection of news content, news production processes, influence of market, politics and others on news production in news rooms, regulations, ethics, etc.

3. What could be native methods of research on Regional Cinema/National Cinema?-Comparative studies in film studies in terms of film forms, narratives, genres, theories and aesthetics, semiotics and cultural studies.

4. What could be the appropriate research methods for Cultural studies –Comparative studies and Cross cultural communication-Fashion, Life Styles, Internet, Semiotics & traditions, cross cultural trends, Religion, Tourism and Travel, etc. with emphasis on ‘nation-state’ and ‘container’ theories of cross cultural settings. Application of concepts of de-westernizing and internationalizing media research.

5. How should the native research methods relate to Communication research in other fields: Agriculture, Health, Science and Technology, Business and Sports, etc.

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Call for Papers (CfP)

Extended abstracts/proposals for panel discussions are welcome from media scholars –faculty and professionals-pursuing media research in India or on fellowships from abroad on any of the following sub-themes, but not limited to them, in not more than 1200-1500 words.   For submission of an abstract/proposal for a panel discussion Ph.D is neither a mandatory requirement nor considered an important eligibility. What is required is full participation of academic fraternity in media research with serious scope and concern for this them/sub-themes.

These abstracts could be on the current methods applied in their research or their illustrative understanding of the appropriateness of research methods concerning specific domain or area enlisted in the sub-themes above.

Senior faculty members who have considerable insight into media research though do not hold a Ph.D or M.Phil, and emeritus Professors who had guided scholars for Ph.D programmes in the past are also welcome to send the abstracts/proposals for the conference on the above lines.

The abstracts/proposals should clearly state the following:

i.                     The area chosen for the study

ii.                   The level-regional or mainstream

iii.                  Which methodology is suitable for the chosen area of media studies by the scholar? Is it own methodology or duplication of other scholars’ methods?

iv.                 Why (justification)?

v.                   Does it require ‘de-westernized’ approach or does it fit into the existing western models of research in media studies?

vi.                 Does the chosen area of media research get relevant ‘references’ within Indian context?

vii.                How far the western referencing is helpful for the research in chosen area?

The abstracts and proposals should be sent to the Convener: C.S.H.N.Murthy Ph.D, Associate Professor in Mass Communication and Journalism, Department of Mass Commuunication and Journalism, Tezpur University, Napam, Tezpur 784 028 Assam, India. cshnmurthy@yahoo.co.in or cshnmurthy@tezu.ernet.in

Schedule of Conference

Due date for Submission of Abstracts/proposals for panel discussion: Oct 31, 2010

Notification of acceptance of abstracts:  Nov 5, 2010

Due date for submission of full papers not exceeding 3000 words: Nov 15, 2010

Registration  Fee Rs. 1250/-per person

Those willing to participate may kindly send a Registration fee of Rs. 1250/- in the name of The Registrar, Tezpur University, Napaam 784 028 Tezpur Assam India  and e-mail the copy of the DD along with your willingness to participate/present paper in the conference to the convener: Dr.CSHN Murthy, Associate Professor in Mass Communication and Journalism, Tezpur University, Tezpur at the e-mail id: cshnmurthy@yahoo.co.in / cshnmurthy@gmail.com registering them to attend the conference. Last date for receiving the registration fees is Nov 1st,2010.

They must give the following details in their e-mail without fail.

1. Name 2. Designation 3. Student/Research Scholar/Research Guide 4. Will present an abstract/paper at the conference? 5. Will only participate in conference as a delegate? 6. Title of the abstract/paper to be presented 7. E-mail id 8. Mobile No for Contact 9. Full address to contact. 

The Registration fee to be paid on or before the deadline Nov 1, 2010 to enable us to make arrangements for your accommodation and food.

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Writing science in simple language

 Mahesh Vijapurkar tells us today:

 

Writing on the Nobel Prize for physics to two Russian-born researchers, the New York Times explained (on October 5, 2010) what Graphene, a the kind of carbon. In One paragraph, the paper said it all  thus:

"Graphene is a form of carbon in which the atoms are arranged in a flat hexagon lattice like microscopic chicken wire, a single atom thick. It is not only the thinnest material in the world, but also the strongest: a sheet of it stretched over a coffee cup could support the weight of a truck bearing down on a pencil point."

Hard to find such simple explanation for so complex a thing for the ordinary reader.

Shall we ever manage to find such writing in India in English language newspapers?