Thursday 31 January 2013

‘Yes, we spent money on paid news ads’

The political class is more honest than the media when it comes to ‘paid news’ during elections, judging by the fact that several poll candidates have owned up to this corrupt practice. At least, after the Election Commission and the Press Council of India shot off notices to them and held inquiries into the matter. They have acknowledged guilt by belatedly adding their “news” buying expenses to their election statement of accounts. Some candidates have accepted in writing that they bought what are now called, somewhat oxymoronically, “Paid News Advertisements.” But not a single one of the newspapers they say they gave their money to has accepted any wrongdoing. These are not just any papers. In readership terms, they include three top-ranked dailies.
In some cases, the battles are still on, involving both the politicians and newspapers concerned. On January 15, the EC found that Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Narottam Mishra “failed to lodge his accounts of his election expenses in the manner prescribed by law.” He faces possible disqualification. The EC’s notice to Dr. Mishra concerns 42 news items on him during the November 2008 state elections. These, it pointed out, “read more like election advertisement(s) in favour of you alone rather than (as) news reports.” The EC names four newspapers in its notice: Dainik Bhaskar, Nai DuniyaAacharan and Dainik Datia PrakashDainik Bhaskar is the second most-read daily in the country.
Less than a month earlier, the Press Council of India held quite a few dailies guilty of doing much the same thing during the 2010 Bihar assembly polls. These include Dainik Jagran, the newspaper with the highest readership in the country. The others are Dainik HindustanHindustan TimesDainik Aaj and Purvanchal Ki Raahi. Also, Rashtriya SaharaUdyog Vyapar Times and Prabhat Khabhar.
In many cases, the route to exposure followed the pattern set in the classic case of the former Congress Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan. His 2009 poll campaign for the State legislature drew scores of full pages of “news.” Not a single one of those pages ever mentioned the name of Madhav Kinhalkar, his rival for the Bhokar seat. In a 2009-10 investigation into paid news, The Hindu found a hagiographical article on Mr. Chavan appear word for word in three major rival publications. In two of them, on the same day, in all of them under different by-lines (The Hindu, Nov. 30, 2009).
The 2010 Bihar polls saw a similar pattern. This time, though, one paper came up with a truly novel defence. Same story in different papers? That’s not paid news, argues Udyog Vyapar Times. It submits that other newspapers “hack their computer site and publish the same news.” So what might look like paid news, contends Udyog Vyapar Times, is merely the outcome of desperate rivals hacking into the internal network of this Aligarh-based daily to steal their national exclusives.
How did the candidates issued ‘Paid News’ notices for the Bihar polls by the EC react? All but one seem to have accepted their guilt. According to the EC, they did so by simply adding “the expenditure included by them on account of these ‘news’ in their accounts of election expenses.” In fact, the District Election Officer of Muzaffarpur in Bihar stated flatly that the dailies had carried “news for payment.” He even had letters from the candidates owning up to buying “news.”
The Press Council of India, acting on the matter referred to it by the EC, issued show cause notices toDainik JagranDainik HindustanHindustan Times et al, between July and September 2011. On December 21, 2012, the PCI, on the basis of its own inquiry committee’s report, got tough. Of the high-profile line-up, only Prabhat Khabhar escaped “the highest penalty” of the Press Council — censure — under Section 14 (1) of the Press Council Act of 1978. This was the only case where the paper and the candidate both firmly denied the charge. (In all the other cases, the candidates accepted they had purchased “news”.) And Prabhat Khabar’s own record — it has strongly campaigned against paid news — added weight to its defence. The paper offered to apologise if the EC produced proof of any such aberration. It was “cautioned for the future.”
All the other dailies denied the charges, too. But, as the PCI’s inquiry committee puts it, “in all these cases, the candidate in question admitted before the Election Commission of India that he paid for the impugned material.” These dailies were found “guilty of having carried news reports that were in fact self-promotion material provided by the candidate in the fray,” and so faced the highest penalty of censure.
So quite a few politicians seem willing to confess to their paid news sins. They face penalties, too. Just 16 months ago, the EC disqualified Umlesh Yadav, then sitting MLA from Bisauli in Uttar Pradesh, for a period of three years for failing to provide a “true and correct account” of her election expenses. She had skipped any mention of her spending on advertisements dressed up as news during her 2007 poll campaign. She was the first legislator ever to bite the dust on grounds of excessive expenditure (and paid news). Dr. Mishra, Health Minister in the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh, now faces charges of the kind that got her disqualified.
Ashok Chavan case
Oddly enough, the Ashok Chavan case, which triggered off a spate of such cases, is itself bogged down in both the EC and the Supreme Court. The case of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda is likewise held up in the courts. Judicial delays could have a serious and possibly adverse impact in the fight against Paid News in the 2014 general election.
But what action do habitual offenders in the media face? The Paid News Committee constituted by the Election Commission has concluded that those 42 “news items” involving Dr. Mishra “appear to be advertisements in the garb of news” and fall “within the definition of ‘Paid News’.” The Press Council defines Paid News as “any news or analysis appearing in any media (print or electronic) for a price in cash or kind as consideration.” A Press Council team appointed by PCI Chairperson Justice Katju found last month that Paid News had been rampant in Gujarat during the State polls there in December 2012.
So what happens where media outlets concerned are found guilty? Where the “highest penalty” is censure and that draws not even an apology? Of course, Paid News is not only about elections, though that’s where it does greatest damage to the greatest number. It is an everyday activity in much of the media. The cloying coverage that powerful corporations get routinely reeks of it. You can see it in some completely corporate “sporting” events or “partnerships.” Governments, too, buy “news” sometimes. You can see it at work in Davos, too. Who funds journalists and channels from India at that World Economic Forum event each year is worth looking at. But that’s another story. Watch this space.
psainath@mtnl.net.in

Sourced: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/yes-we-spent-money-on-paid-news-ads/article4354575.ece 

Thursday 24 January 2013

National Conference on Print Media and Social Media in Varanasi


Following has been sent in by Prof Ram Mohan Pathak. It concerns a three day conference from Feb 15 to 18, 2013 in Varanasi on Print Media and Social Media: Challenges and Prospects:

विश्वविद्यालय अनुदान आयोग,नयी दिल्ली के सहयोग से मदन मोहन मालवीय हिंदी पत्रकारिता संस्थान(महात्मा गांधी काशी विद्यापीठ,वाराणसी) द्वारा 'Print Media and Social Media : Challanges & Prospects' विषय पर तीन दिवसीय राष्ट्रीय संगोष्ठी का आयोजन 15,16 एवं 17 फरवरी 2013 को किया जा रहा है।इस अन्तर-विषयक संगोष्ठी में पत्रकारिता के अतिरिक्त के अन्य विषयों से जुड़े छात्र,शोधछात्र तथा अध्यापक भाग ले सकते हैं।इस संगोष्ठी में प्रतिभागिता हेतु पंजीयन शुल्क इस प्रकार है-

छात्र- 500 रुपये
शोधछात्र-600 रुपये
अध्यापक-800 रुपये

इस संगोष्ठी के लिए अपना शोधपत्र भेजने की अंतिम तिथि 30 जनवरी 2013 है।विशेष जानकारी हेतु संपर्क कर सकते हैं-
प्रो.राम मोहन पाठक
निदेशक एवं सकायाध्यक्ष,
मदन मोहन मालवीय हिंदी पत्रकारिता संस्थान,
महात्मा गांधी काशी विद्यापीठ,वाराणसी-221002
Email- rammohanpathak@gmail.com,
rammohanpathak@hotmail.com

Phone- 0542-2220167
Cell- 09415201333

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Workshop on New media technologies


I have received the following today:

                        Facebook / Twitter / Blogs / Wiki….
                                       
Can I really benefit from these?  (you may be wondering...)

The answer is, surprisingly, YES, now you can.  How?   Please read on...

We at CSE have been dabbling for quite a while with the above social networking touch points and tools.  And, frankly, we ourselves came across such self doubts before we started off in this direction.  Now that we have learnt to exploit these tools, we want to share our successful experience with other like minded people and have pleasure in inviting you for a 3-day workshop on

   E-OUTREACH: New Media Technologies for Advocacy and Strategic Communication
                                    (January 29-31, 2013 - at our CSE office in New Delhi)

You may or may not be using these new technologies but the age of new media has arrived.  We want you to attend this workshop or nominate some of your colleagues to attend this first-of-a-kind programme on new media communication from CSE.

Who Will Benefit
-        Development Communicators
-        Researchers
-        Web/ Information Managers
-        Digital Librarians
-        Advertising/ PR Professionals/ Industries with CSR initiatives
-        NGOs & Consultants

Course Fee

NGOs: Rs. 4,800 per participant 
Corporate, government and international organizations: Rs 9,600 per participant 
Accomodation and related costs are not included in the cost. However, CSE can help you find a place to stay.

The course fee should be paid in advance by demand draft/cheque in the name of CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT. (Add Rs.15 for all non-Delhi cheques)


Look forward to your participation in the workshop.

Cordially,
Kiran Pandey
Programme Director – Information Management
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area
New Delhi – 110 062
Phone: +91 (011) 29955124/125 (Ext. 287)
Mob: 9968767698
Fax: +91 (011) 29955879
Email:  kirandwi@gmail.com, kiran@cseindia.org

AMIC Conference from July four to seven in Indonesia

Following from Prof Dr Ang Peng Hwa:

ASIAN MEDIA INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION CENTRE (AMIC)
22nd INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
4-7 July, 2013
in partnership with the Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia


Theme: 
Transformational Communication and the New Asia
The theme of this year’s annual AMIC conference seeks to highlight the role of communication and the media in bringing about a ‘New Asia’, that is, an Asia that is slowly transforming into a ‘soft power’ as Europe and North America seem to continue their decline.
A recent study by the Asian Development Bank noted that, “Asia is in the midst of a truly historic transformation. It holds the promise of making some 3 billion additional Asians, hitherto commonly associated with poverty and deprivation, affluent by today’s standards,”

With this economic growth comes ‘soft power’, seen in the growing global influence of Asian culture, symbolized by, for example, the rising Bollywood and Hong Kong genre in films, Japanese anime and Korean pop music. It is also seen in the Asian presence in various communication channels. Most Asian nations have their own radio and television networks and have reduced their reliance on Western-oriented international news agencies for their world news content. And their social and mobile media presence is overwhelming. To illustrate, the Internet Worldstats.com reports that Chinese is the second most used language on the Internet (after English). Japanese rated fourth, and Korean was tenth.

Conference streams:
  • new media, old media ethics
  • media and revolution
  • new media literacies
  • ethnicity, race and religion in communication
  • communication and youth
  • leadership and the media  
  • new paradigms in development communication
  • cross-cultural networking
  • policy and communication
  • gender and communication
  • media and a free press
  • broadcasting, past and present
  • print communication, past and present
  • media history and evolution
  • freedom of expression in transition societies
  • socio-political development and the media
  • media empowerment
  • communication and social change 

CALL FOR PAPERS
Papers will be selected on a competitive basis and an expert panel will be appointed for screening all the submissions.

Abstracts due:         April 30, 2013
Full papers due:      June 01, 2013

To be submitted via email <conference@amic.org.sg>. Papers should NOT to be emailed to personal emails of conference organizers.

FORMAT FOR ABSTRACTS
1. Indicate your proposed “Conference Stream” in the subject line of your email
2. E-mail should contain the following:

a. Paper title
b. Author name, position, institution
d. Short biography of Author (100 words); please do not send full CV
e.  Paper Abstract (500-700 words)

FORMAT FOR PAPERS
1.      Should be written in English and, if you must use jargon, clearly explain its meaning.
2.      Length is 5,000-8,000 words
3.      Citation should be in APA Style
4.      Submit using Microsoft Word or RTF document. Font Times New Roman, 12 pts. Please use plain text and not formatting.
5.      Subject line should say “full paper and conference stream”

For more information please contact Ms. Rachel Khan at rekhan@amic.org.sg or
Ms. Sangeetha Madasamy at sangeetha@amic.org.sg.
Note to all authors: By submitting your paper, you agree, that if your paper gets selected you will register and present the paper. All co-authors attending and/or presenting at the conference must register too.
Criteria for Review
Abstracts
Criteria used to judge abstracts will include, but not restricted to the following:
  • Topic
  • Theoretical Orientation
  • Research Design
  • Results
  • Quality of writing and organization of the paper
  • Indications of potential contributions of the study to communication research in Asia
Full paper
Criteria used to judge full papers will include, but not restricted to the following:
  • Purpose of the paper
  • Organization of the paper
  • Literature Review
  • Research Methodology
  • Relevance of paper to the conference
  • Subject of the paper representing a significant direction for communication research in Asia
  • Quality of writing
  • Evidences and conclusions relating to the purpose of the paper with the evidence supporting the conclusions

    ---



    For details: Please contact
    Rachel E. Khan
    Research and Publications Manager
    Asian Media Information and Communications Centre (AMIC)
    #04-19, Nanyang Technological University
    Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
    Building 31 Nanyang Link
    Singapore 637718
    www.amic.org.sg

Tuesday 22 January 2013

National Seminar is ‘Corporate Communication Policies and Responsibilities’ in Jalgaon


Dr. Tukaram Daud has sent the following announcement:

                        The North Maharashtra University is organizing two day National Seminar in the subject of Mass Communication and Journalism. 
The topic for the National Seminar is Corporate Communication Policies and Responsibilities’With Sub Theme as follows:
1) New Trends of Corporate PR
            2) Corporate PR and Management
           3) Leading practices in Corporate Communication.
            4) Corporate Social Responsibility.
            5)Government Relation.
            6) Crisis Communication and Management.
            7) Image identity and reputation Management.
            8) Social Media and Public Relation.
            9) Research in Corporate Communication in present Scenario
            10) Strategic Corporate Communication practice.
            11) Media Relation Policy.
            12) Goal setting in Corporate Communication.
            13) Corporate Communication in  Digital Age.
            14) Corporate Management in digital age.
            15) Corporate Communication in contemporary business.

            16) Code and  Ethics of Corporate PR

Please send your entry in the prescribed registration form and convey the same to your friends or Associates in the Subject.

The National Seminar is ‘Corporate Communication Policies and Responsibilities’
Two day  22-23 March 2013

Venue of the Seminar
The Seminar will be held at Senate Hall, University campus, North Maharashtra University, Jalgoan.
Objective of the Seminar
The main Objective of the Seminar to provide a common platform for young researcher in Mass Communication ,Journalism and Management students. To exchange their views and ideas in the field of Corporate Communication. Also to contemplate on the new trends and practices in the Subject  particularly in the Khandesh region 
Theme of the Seminar
Corporate Communication Policies and Responsibilities’
Call for Papers
Interested participants are requested to submit their abstracts( not exceeding then five hundred words {500words}  including brief objective, methodology, important finding and conclusion) electronically as an e-mail attachments to
Dr. Tukaram Daud                              :- tvdaud@gmail.com
                                                               tvdaud@rediffmail.com
Mobile no                                            :- 09420438453
Land line No                                       :- 0257-2258008
Mr. Sanjaykumar Pundge                   :- sanjaykumarpundge12@gmail.com
                                          :- 09421367081
Mr. Vinod Nitale                                :- nitalevinod@gmail.com
                                                            :- 09860046706
All abstracts received will be peer reviewed by Media Expert  Committee and selected authors/writers would be intimated for oral presentation selected papers after following review process will be published in the University Journal(ISSN and ISBN) by the Department.

 IMPORTANT DATES

Last date of receipt of Abstract                   : 28th February 2013
Notification to authors                      : 5th March 2013

Submission of registration fee                    : 8th march 2013
alongwith full-length paperSINDUSTRY REPRESENTATION & EXHIBITION
ABOUT DEHRADUN
Registration fee ACCOMMODATION

Teachers/Journalist/Research Scholar :  1000/-
Student                                              :  500
 (Registration fee includes registration kit, working lunches,
tea/coffee during seminar, and copy of proceeding)
Registration fee is to be paid as Demand Draft in favor of “Head, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, North Maharashtra University Jalgoan payable at Jalgaon. Duly filled registration form along with registration fee may be sent to the following address:

Dr.Tukaram Daud
Organizing Secretary /Head and Associate Professor

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, North Maharashtra University Jalgoan 425001 Maharashtra India

Accommodation will be arranged in North Maharashtra  University campus  in Shikshak Bhawan on first cum first served basis at reasonable rates will be chargeable to the candidates. Such requests should reach us positively by 8th March 2013.

* Please note -  No T.A./D.A. will be paid.


                                      Registration Form
Two days National Seminar on
‘Corporate Communication Policies and Responsibilities”.
On 22-23 March 2013
Name                                                :-        
Designation                                      :-
Address for correspondence  :-_____________________
______________________________________________  
Phone                                                :-
Mobile No                                        :-
e-mail                                               :-
Title of the Paper                              :-
Theme selected                                :-
Name of the author(s)                      :-
Name of the present author              :-
Name of presenting author               :-
Name of accompanying person       :-
Mode of payment                                       :-
Registration fee                                :-
D.D .No.                                           :-                          Dated :-
Accommodation required                :-     Yes/No
Date of arrival                                  :-
Date of departure                    :-
Additional information          :- __________________


Place
 Date                                       Signature of the participant
--

About the University
The North Maharashtra University is one of the upcoming Universities in India. The University was established on 15th August 1990 under The Maharashtra University Act no XXIX of 1989 as a teaching and affiliating University. The Jurisdiction of North Maharashtra University is spread over three district of North Maharahstra i.e. Jalgaon, Dhue and Nandurabar. The University situated on the bank of river ‘Girna’ and the campus of the University is spread over a hilly terrain of 650 acres of land. The University also well connected to Jalgoan city by Asian Highway no 46. The University is imparting education to students, through various courses at under graduate, post graduate, Doctoral and post doctoral level, under nine faculties, which includes Science, Engineering and technology, Education, Medicine and Pharmacy, Ayurvedic Medicine, Arts, Fine arts, Commerce and Management, Mass Communication and Journalism, Moral and Social Sciences, Law faculty etc. There are more than 200 colleges  and 37 Institutes and 17 recognized R & D  centers affiliated to the University and this number is growing every year. It’s mission   is ‘To impart relevant quality higher education to the students, to groom them to be conscious, researchers, technologists, professionals and citizens, bearing the  torch for disseminating knowledge in masses for suitable socio-economic development of the society’. TEACH ONE EACH ONE  AND TREE ONE’ (TOEOATO).

About the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism
          In present Era, Mass Media has developed in various aspect and branches.  In Print Media, Electronic Media and recent digitalized Media had showed humongous progress. The Department of Mass Communication had started two year post graduate course M.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism from the year 2006-2007.  Well equipped practical and experienced faculties are the backbone of the Department. Academic and requirement ratio of the department is positively growing at a fast rate. The Department publishes a periodical namely, ‘UMAVI VARTA’ since 2008 and every year contribution from the concern department students is commendable. The department always tries to impart the best Journalistic wisdom as far as possible and also take lead in organizing seminars, workshop, speeches of major Media personalities including the arrangement of study tours. The department takes vital lead in image building in personality development of all individual and organizing National and International Media related events and research activities.

Monday 21 January 2013

National Conference on Media and Women in Silchar


Dr. Payel Das has sent in the following announcement

National Conference on
Media and Women: Different Emerging Perspectives in the Way of Development

March 15 -16, 2013

Department of Mass Communication
Assam University Silchar, Assam
India- 788011
-
Conference Theme

Mass Media play a significant role for the development of women. Women are expected to play leading role in the process of development but without a conscious and committed position, we cannot expect any concrete contribution. Therefore, media has an  important role to play and to create awakening in women to achieve their potential as the prime movers of the change in the society. However, women are still deprived irrespective of their class, age, income or other social status. They are the victim of gender inequality and discrimination and often ignored in resource allocation and decision-making. On the other hand, people blame that media in India does not addresses serious issues about    exploitation and unequal treatment to the women in different spheres of the society. Media wields immense power in the democracy and carrying out a focused attention about women is indispensable. The subject ‘Women and Media’ in the context of development is quite relevant in the present day. This conference is aimed to provide a platform of discussion on their vital issues.


Sub Themes
  • Coverage of Gender Issues and Media
  • Status of Women in Media
  • Women Journalists and Electronic media.
  • Media and Women at Decision Making.
  • Media and Domestic Violence
  • Media and Human Rights
  • Media and Literacy
  • Media and Women Empowerment.
  • Media and Gender Discrimination.
  • Portrayal of Women in Media
  • Media and Feminist Perspectives.
  • ICT and its role in Women Empowerment (with Special reference to North East India). 
Submission of Abstract and Full Paper

Papers pertinent to the theme are invited.

The text typed in Times New Roman 12 point font size and 1.5 spacing, along with an  abstract not exceeding 300 words should be submitted on or  before 30th January 2013

The full paper along with the soft copy and hard copy should be sent on or before 20th February 2013

The paper should be in English.

The screening committee will review all   papers and selected papers will be published in a book format. The soft copy of the paper can be sent to the following emails:

Venue: Bipin Chandra Pal Auditorium, Assam University, Silchar.


Jobs in Loksabha


Prof Sundar Rajdeep has drawn my attention to the notification about vacancies in 
Lok Sabha secretariat. These include 


Parliamentary Interpreter Grade-II: 02 posts
2. Parliamentary Reporter Grade-II (English):16 posts
3. DTP Operator: 04 posts
4. Junior Proof Reader: 08 posts
5. Printer: 07 posts
6. Binder Grade-II: 05 posts
7. Ware House Man: 02 posts

Please visit: 
http://www.freejobalert.com/lok-sabha-secretariat/21773/

kt

Sunday 13 January 2013

Media Watch Invites Reviewers


Following from Mr Deepak R Jena: 

Media Watch (ISSN 0976 0911, e-ISSN 2249 8818) is an international peer reviewed mass communication and media journal Published from India three issues in a year. The journal encourages national and international media scholars, media professionals and post-graduate students to submit scholarly articles, critical essays, research findings, book reviews, opinion pieces, examining a wide range of issues in journalism, media and communication.
Media Watch caters towards the research interests of communication scholars, professionals and teachers, so we welcome peer reviewers on any area of mass media, communication and journalism. We are particularly interested in hearing from media experts and researchers who have expertise in these areas.
Peer reviewing is a great chance to develop scholarly skills and is great to put on your CV. The role of peer reviewer involves the anonymous reviewing of one or (at most) two articles with your focus as reviewer to assess the article's academic standard.
If you would like to participate in this excellent opportunity, please respond to this e-mail indicating your acceptance, and also your area of expertise, be that journalism, mass communication, film/television studies, radio, new and traditional media, Internet studies, or whichever area within media, communications and cultural studies you are comfortable reviewing.
Peer reviewing does not have to be too much work and is an essential part of academic life. So if you would like to take up this invitation and interested to join Media Watch as a Reviewer, please send your CV and a brief summary of your specific expertise and interests at mediawatchjournal@gmail.com / mediajournal@ymail.com. We will make sure you are included in the database.
All selected reviewers must adhere and follow the guidelines formed by Media Watch editorial board
·         Reviewers must critically review the assigned paper in specified time frame of Media Watch journal.
·         Reviewers must follow the full double blind international refereeing process to ensure the quality review.
·         All the review feedbacks must be provided in written e-format.
·         Reviewers must highlight the parts of submitted manuscripts that require amendments from authors. The expert reviewer suggestions will be value added.
·         The paper will be reviewed by the same reviewer once the suggested changes are done in reviewed paper.
·         Editorial board of Media Watch has every right to override any suggested changes by reviewers and their decision should not be ruled out by reviewer.

Saturday 12 January 2013

National Seminar on ‘METAMORPHOSIS OF NEW MEDIA AND DIGITAL CULTURE’ in Pune from March 7 to 9


Dr Madhavi Reddy has announced the National Seminar on  ‘METAMORPHOSIS OF NEW MEDIA AND DIGITAL CULTUREat the Department of Communication Studies, University of Pune, from March 7 to 9 March, 2013.


Friday 11 January 2013

AMIC 2013 Conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

AMIC Secretary-General Martin Hadlow has sent in the following:

"Annual AMIC conference will be held this year in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from the 4th-7th July. 

It is hosted by colleagues at Universitas Gadjah Mada. The 2013 conference promises to be a very important and interesting one and I would urge you to note the dates in your diary. 

We look forward with keen anticipation to your attendance and participation. More details of the conference theme and topics will continue to be posted on our web-site at www.amic.org.sg

With best wishes,
Martin Hadlow
Secretary-General, AMIC"

--

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Workshop on National Security Interests for journalists in Bangalore on January 30-31


I have received the following from Mr. Sashi Nair, editor, Press Institute of India:

The Press Institute of India, Chennai, in its landmark 50th year, and the Institute of Contemporary Studies Bangalore, a multi-expertise think-tank specalising in national security and foreign policy affairs, will conduct a workshop on National Security Interests and Objectives. It will be held on 30-31st January at the Christ University, Bangalore.Journalists with five to eight years of experience in a newspaper, magazine or television channel are encouraged to attend. 

Speakers include:

B.G. Verghese, veteran editor and columnist; fellow, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi; and former editor of the Hindustan Times and the Indian Express

Siddarath Vardarajan, editor, The Hindu

P.M. Heblikar, managing trustee, Institute of Contemporary Studies, Bangalore, and former special secretary, Government of India

D.S. Rajan, director, Chennai Centre for China Studies, Chennai

B. Chengappa, ditorial writer with Deccan Herald, Bangalore, specialist in national security issues and international affairs.

A.K. Arni, former special secretary, Government of India, who served the Research and Analysis Wing for four decades

B. R. Muthu Kumar, former Indian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Belarus, Lithuania and Azerbaijan

Praveen Swami, resident editor, The Hindu, New Delhi

R.N. Ravi, former special director, Intelligence Bureau, who also served in the Central Bureau of Investigation

Chandan Gowda, professor of Sociology, Azim Premiji University, Bangalore

Sandeep Shastry, pro-vice chancellor, Jain University, Bangalore

P.V. Ramanna, research fellow, Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, New Delhi

Tobby Simon, president of Synergia Foundation

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Friday 4 January 2013

Whistle Blower policy at the Hindu


The Kasturi and Sons, the publishers of The Hindu group of publications, have put in place Whistleblower policy of the company. Now any employee of the company can make whistle blower complaints within the company on reportable matters concerning the organisation without fear of reprisal, discrimination of adverse employment consequences. In a confidential note circulated internally, dated January One 2013, company  CFO and CS S Padmanabhan said the complaints should contain all relevant critical information.
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Thursday 3 January 2013

13 journalists killed in Pakistan, five in India

New Delhi: Pakistan saw the highest number of journalists losing their lives in South Asia with 13 of them dying in the line of duty, followed by India with five among a total of 25 media persons falling victim to violence. 

"In 2012, South Asia- the most volatile region- mourned the murder of 25 media persons, with Pakistan again remaining in the lead. 13 journalists lost their lives in Pakistan, followed by five in India, three in Bangladesh, and two each in Nepal and Afghanistan," a report of the South Asia Media Monitor said. 
"The media also came under scrutiny for laxity in professionalism in achieving accuracy and being unbiased," the report said.
Insurgency affected Balochistan and the northern parts of Pakistan were the most dangerous areas with the range of threats and trauma growing. In India, five killings point to the dangers journalism faced apart from the constant pressure of commercialisation. Tensions persisted in the conflict prone regions such as Kashmir, the report said.
"The media also came under scrutiny for laxity in professionalism in achieving accuracy and being unbiased," the report said.
Insurgency affected Balochistan and the northern parts of Pakistan were the most dangerous areas with the range of threats and trauma growing. In India, five killings point to the dangers journalism faced apart from the constant pressure of commercialisation. Tensions persisted in the conflict prone regions such as Kashmir, the report said.

Insurgency affected Balochistan and the northern parts of Pakistan were the most dangerous areas with the range of threats and trauma growing. In India, five killings point to the dangers journalism faced apart from the constant pressure of commercialisation. Tensions persisted in the conflict prone regions such as Kashmir, the report said.
 
In Sri Lanka, media has seen no major improvement even after the end of the civil strife there, the report said.
 

The Indian journalists who lost their lives in 2012 were Chandrika Rai, Rajesh Mishra, Raihan Nayum, Chaitali Santra and Thangjam Dijamani.
 

Journalists working in Jammu and Kashmir, North Eastern states and Jharkhand were targeted.
 

"Ironically, there were mini-conflict zones in 'normal' states as well," the report said.
 

South Asia Media Monitor rued that there was little advance towards evolving a credible regulatory mechanism.
 

"Self-regulation in the electronic media touched only the fringe of TV programmes while it was not even tried in the print media. All were, however, opposed to government control in any form," the report said.
 
In Sri Lanka, media has seen no major improvement even after the end of the civil strife there, the report said. 


The Indian journalists who lost their lives in 2012 were Chandrika Rai, Rajesh Mishra, Raihan Nayum, Chaitali Santra and Thangjam Dijamani. 

Journalists working in Jammu and Kashmir, North Eastern states and Jharkhand were targeted.
 

"Ironically, there were mini-conflict zones in 'normal' states as well," the report said.
 

South Asia Media Monitor rued that there was little advance towards evolving a credible regulatory mechanism.
 

"Self-regulation in the electronic media touched only the fringe of TV programmes while it was not even tried in the print media. All were, however, opposed to government control in any form," the report said.
 PTI 


For details: visit http://www.southasianmedia.net/#South-Asia