www.timesofindia.com adjudged 'Best News and Information Website' of the year

Times of India.com (www.timesofindia.com) has been crowned as the 'Best News and Information Website' of the year while Economic times.com (www.economictimes.com), Indiatimes.com (www.indiatimes.com) and ZigWheels.com (www.zigwheels.com) scooped the prizes for the 'Most Popular' websites at the Ascendas Website of the Year (WOTY) awards 2013.

ET was adjudged as the most popular site in 'finance' category, Indiatimes in the 'news and info' whereas Zigwheels clinched the award for 'automotive' category. The brands are key properties of Times Internet -- the largest Indian internet network which is also the digital venture of Times of India Group. 

The seventh edition of Ascendas India best website awards started on October 14, 2013 and received a phenomenal response getting over 1,24,432 votes, making it one of the most voted online award this season. It saw 238 websites getting nominated in 20 categories with majority of voters from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. The nominated websites were evaluated on the parameters of content, navigation, design, engagement and user interface. 

Times of India Online (www.timesofindia.com) won the title 'Best News and Info Website of the Year' with the highest average score on four elements. As one of India's most popular news websites, Timesofindia.com offers a complete and up-to-date coverage on national, international and city-specific happenings related to events in the field of sports, entertainment, lifestyle, business and more. In India, the website caters to over 12 million unique visitors and more than 190 million page views as per ComScore October 2013 report, making it India's most preferred English news site. 

India's no. 1 business and financial news website Economic times.com is the only site in the country which covers business and markets 24X7, and updates 500 stories per day. It clocks 134 million page views every month; is visited by over 6.4 million unique visitors who spend almost half an hour on the site. In addition, 3 million visitors have downloaded ET apps on mobiles and tablets across all platforms. 

ZigWheels.com is India's no. 1 automotive portal & gets over 3 million unique visitors every month. It is the country's most exhaustive auto portal cutting across cars and bikes. The portal carries a range of news and views on motoring like reviews, road tests, exhaustive galleries and specialty content on motorsport, tools & tips and international motoring events. ZigWheels has also emerged as the platform of choice for buyers and sellers as well as automotive enthusiasts and this award is a testimony to that. 

Indiatimes.com is a youth-focused content portal that curates the trending and buzzing stories from entertainment, news, lifestyle, tech, sports and more. With close to 60 million page views a month and 3 million unique visitors. 

WANTED: ETHICS IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Following from Anil Cherukupalli

We are happy to announce the next event in the Wanted Series in Mumbai which will take place on 18 December 2013 at the Max Mueller Bhavan, K. Dubash Marg, Kala Ghoda from 6 pm to 9 pm.

The theme of the discussion is WANTED: ETHICS IN PHOTOGRAPHY.

Photography, after the introduction to the ethereal world of electronics has undergone a revolution that has extreme implications on the moral and ethical, as well as the legal and professional dimensions of photography. The digital revolution offers empowerment and opportunity, along with a range of new problems such as digital manipulation, legal status of ownership rights over images, intellectual property rights, reproduction rights, right to freedom, and the right to privacy.

Photographers, journalists, and artists, too encounter ethical challenges in their professional and personal lives. Though not easy, but often, an answer to such challenges may emerge from brainstorming or intense discussions. Do we have a framework of ethics and morals on creating and consuming photography in India? Are ethics and morals the same? Are ethics and laws consistent in India? Should ethics be sacrificed for the higher good of the society? Do professional ethics in one discipline conflict and contradict with ethical conduct of another discipline? Can a voluntary ethical and moral framework be developed for use by photographers in India? The invited speakers will share their experiences, which will be followed by an open discussion with everyone present.

To register for the event please go here: www.wantedseries.com/register

The WANTED SERIES is an interaction conceived and organised by Goa Center for Alternative Photography (Goa-CAP) and Aksgar in collaboration with Goethe-Institut/ Max Mueller Bhavan, where prominent editors, curators and publishers from the art, photography and media world will discuss critical issues on photography in an informal setting. 

This is a discussion series which travels to different cities in India. You can read more about the Wanted Series at www.wantedseries.com

Best wishes,
Anil

Without Fear or Favor

I stumbled upon this interesting piece while searching for the origin of the credo ‘Without Fear or Favor’

Exactly 100 years ago today, Adolph S. Ochs, the founding father of the modern Times, published a declaration of principles in these pages setting forth his goals for the respectable but failing newspaper he had just taken over. The 38-year-old publisher, who had already rescued a dying paper in Chattanooga, Tenn., now found himself pitted in New York against powerful, sensationalistic competitors in the heyday of yellow journalism. His statement envisioned a dignified and responsible alternative that would provide trustworthy news and opinion. One especially elegant and inspirational goal -- ''to give the news impartially, without fear or favor, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved'' -- has held a place of honor at The Times ever since. Ochs's statement, reprinted below, was widely quoted at the time and remains a worthy credo for journalists everywhere, however difficult to fulfill.

To undertake the management of The New-York Times, with its great history for right doing, and to attempt to keep bright the lustre which Henry J. Raymond and George Jones $(the paper's founding publishers$) have given it is an extraordinary task. But if a sincere desire to conduct a high-standard newspaper, clean, dignified, and trustworthy, requires honesty, watchfulness, earnestness, industry, and practical knowledge applied with common sense, I entertain the hope that I can succeed in maintaining the high estimate that thoughtful, pure-minded people have ever had of The New-York Times.

It will be my earnest aim that The New-York Times give the news, all the news, in concise and attractive form, in language that is parliamentary in good society, and give it as early, if not earlier, than it can be learned through any other reliable medium; to give the news impartially, without fear or favor, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved; to make of the columns of The New-York Times a forum for the consideration of all questions of public importance, and to that end to invite intelligent discussion from all shades of opinion.

There will be no radical changes in the personnel of the present efficient staff. Mr. Charles R. Miller, who has so ably for many years presided over the editorial pages, will continue to be the editor; nor will there be a departure from the general tone and character and policies pursued with relation to public questions that have distinguished The New-York Times as a non-partisan newspaper -- unless it be, if possible, to intensify its devotion to the cause of sound money and tariff reform, opposition to wastefulness and peculation in administering public affairs, and in its advocacy of the lowest tax consistent with good government, and no more government than is absolutely necessary to protect society, maintain individual and vested rights, and assure the free exercise of a sound conscience. ADOLPH S. OCHS, New-York, Aug. 18, 1896.

Published in The New York Times, August 19, 1996

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/19/opinion/without-fear-or-favor.html accessed on December 8, 2013

When every newspaper becomes a tabloid

What is one to make of the Tarun Tejpal story? Why was it necessary for the media to cover it in this detail? How did it come to dominate the news cycle in the middle of an important election blanking out other stories, including that of a prime ministerial candidate’s reported misuse of his police?

The Times of India reported last Sunday that: “Not only was there barely any live coverage of the Modi rally (on Saturday) despite being held in Delhi but it did not receive detailed mention in news bulletins through the day.”

It continued: “The Tejpal story on the other hand, despite lacking any development through most of the day by way of dramatic visuals or leaked mails, dragged on as the nation waited for a Goa court to decide if he would be arrested or not.” The Times of India is itself not exempt from this and the top story on its website that day was how the Tejpal family chatted noisily and ordered sandwiches on their flight to Goa.

Is the coverage of this story an indicator of something larger? I believe so.

Let’s have a look at media structurally to understand the phenomenon in terms of theory. We can identify and link the media category to the material it is primarily concerned with covering.

At one end of the news spectrum is the report on one individual and one incident. The more famous the person is, the smaller the incident required to qualify it as news (Sachin Tendulkar retires, Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri have a surrogate baby, Tejpal accused of rape). These stories are usually of no concern to the reader and do not affect the world at large.

However, this is a legitimate space for reportage and media that focuses purely on this sort of journalism on one person and one event is what is called “tabloid”.

There is a class bias here. Such news is aimed at and consumed by the lower classes, who are not very educated and interested in popular rather than high culture. It is the blue-collar masses who subscribe to tabloids such as The Sun in London, which are the best exponents of such journalism.

At the other end of the spectrum is the report unrelated to the individual, such as on policy or politics or economics. This is the domain of the broadsheet, like The Guardian or The New York Times, and magazines like our Economic & Political Weekly.

The subject of their coverage usually affects more people. Business journalism occupies the same space by default because of its areas of interest. This is why business journalists and business journalism tends to be better than regular media, especially in places like India.

Even in civilized nations, at times all media converge on the tabloid story: We have the examples of O.J. Simpson, an actor and former American football player, Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern who was at the centre of a political sex scandal, and Britain’s Princess Diana.

But these are episodes. The media in the West holds its formation for most stories.

In India, it is not so. The mass media, all of it, descends to the tabloid end of the news spectrum. The resulting news coverage is high intensity but episodic. Delhi rape/Talwar conviction/Tejpal arrest. It is noise without illumination.

After politicians and policemen, the media understands Indians best because it is plugged into audience response through daily sales. This is especially so for television journalists, who receive story-specific data on consumption.

Television has pushed newspapers further this way, meaning towards popular journalism. Till 15 years ago, the news agenda was determined by the main wire service, the Press Trust of India, which fed newspapers national stories and even instructed them on the day’s “lead” stories. That has changed totally and last night’s television determines the morning’s front page.

Things that would have been ignored or underplayed earlier by the brave or stubborn editor are now irresistible national stories because they are made so by Times Now, CNN-IBN and NDTV in English and their corresponding channels in Hindi.

Newspapers feel they have lost control of the direction of news coverage.

There is a second structural issue in India, which affects the media’s output. What is upmarket in the West—high culture, meaning literature, classical music and art—doesn’t exist in our media. Newspapers have been cleansed of such distractions thoroughly. There are almost no pages dedicated to it.

In India what is actually downmarket in the West—celebrity gossip (“Page 3”)—is called upmarket in the trade. All editors are familiar with the demand from proprietors and advertising sales executives to make their paper “more upmarket”.

It is serious journalism—stories about middle India and its problems—that is called downmarket here.

This inversion, we must accept, comes from audience demand and a lack of audience fragmentation, meaning most Indians are fine with this. That, of course, means things will remain this way.s it necessary for the media to cover the Tarun Tejpal story in this detail?

News letter on “Gender and Media”.

Following from Nidhi Shendurnikar Tere, Vadodara:

The Women’s Studies Research Centre, M.S.University of Baroda publishes a biannual newsletter with a new name “WSRC Communiqué”. The theme of the next newsletter would be “Gender and Media”.

We are happy to invite contributions for the 2014 issue on the theme “Gender and Media”. Contributions can be made in the form of - research based articles, book reviews, short stories, and diverse range of critical ideas for on-going researches, contributions on gender and media from different disciplinary perspectives, critical commentaries, real-life stories and poetry with the word limit not exceeding beyond 1,000 words. We welcome contributions from journalists and other media professionals. 

Submissions can be sent/mailed/submitted in person to the Documentation Officer at the Women’s Studies Research Centre, OLD NCC girls building, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, M.S University of Baroda. You can also email your contributions to: women.studies@yahoo.com. Preference will be given to articles written in English, though, Hindi and Gujarati are welcome.

Last date of receiving articles is 31^st December, 2013.

Please note that submission of contribution in any form does not guarantee that it will be published in “WSRC Communiqué”. Final selection of articles to be published remains with the Guest Editor of the newsletter. Please find the official invite attached with the email. Please spread the word among students/researchers for the same.

Regards, 

Nidhi Shendurnikar Tere

Senior Research Fellow (UGC-SRF)

Dept. of Political Science,

The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Vadodara, Gujarat.

Sachin's farewell test emerges as highest rated test in the last 8 years in India

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell test match has emerged as the highest rated test match on television in India in the past eight years. The match garnered 1739 average TVTs, which remain unmatched since 2005.  The two test India – West Indies series was showcased on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD1 in English, while Star Sports 3 showcased the match in Hindi. The series was also streamed live on www.starsports.com.

Star Sports network channels together had the maximum channel share across all genres during six playing days of the test series. (Overall TVTs generated during the day). www.starsports.com attracted 3.5 million unique visitors during the two matches of the India – West Indies test series.

Star Sports launched a 360-degree initiative involving interesting programming, innovative production, disruptive marketing to add buzz around Mastero’s farewell series. The broadcaster launched three high quality programmes to engage deeper with cricket fans, who were immersed in Sachin mania.

Star Sports launched a distinctive ‘Cheer for Sachin’ campaign featuring stars from Bollywood, Cricket and Television invoking Sahin’s fans to cheer ‘Sachin Sachin’. Even on-ground, Star Sports initiated multitude of interesting activities to make the test series memorable for fans who flocked to watch the maestro in action in his farewell series. STAR India’s CEO Uday Shankar presented Sachin Tendulkar with the first Star Sports ‘Believe’ Trophy during the post presentation ceremony in Mumbai. BCCI title sponsorship rights for the series was also with Star Sports.

Speaking on the occasion, Nitin Kukreja, Head of Sports Business, Star India said, “We are delighted with the ratings. We are humbled that maestro’s farewell series was played on our network and wanted to give him a befitting farewell. I am happy to note that cricket fans have appreciated our efforts.”

“Our strategic investment in the Hindi language feed over the past year or so is now paying us huge dividends. We will continue in our endeavour to promote sports culture in the country,” he added.

Source – TAM: Average TVTs; TG: C&S 15+, M, SEC ABC

Source: http://www.exchange4media.com/53554_sachins-farewell-test-emerges-as-highest-rated-test-in-the-last-8-years-in-india.html accessed on November 26, 2013

Social media is the new watchdog

The case against Tarun Tejpal is the case for crowd-sourced technologies, and the first casualty in the process is the traditional structure of authority. The collective is the new conscience

Monobina Gupta @dna

New Delhi: Deafening silence would have reigned; the rot would have deepened; the accused and the guilty would have hidden behind their celebrity status. But for the power of the social media. Today, we in the media should be especially thankful for the opening up of public spaces through information networks. We should be grateful for the ‘invasion’ of digital media. Boundaries are collapsing in the blink of an eye. Hierarchies are breaking down by the chattering, demanding aam admi. Most importantly, maintaining a position of silence has become impossible. The latest testimony to the unshackled potency of social media comes from the newsroom — the hub of the Fourth Estate, the watchdog of all institutions. Tarun Tejpal, the editor of Tehelka magazine — who created ripples in the media world with his radical agenda of promoting journalism ‘with a difference’ — stands accused of one the gravest offences: sexual assault. A young reporter in the magazine has alleged that Tejpal sexually assaulted her in a lift when she was on an assignment during the much-hyped up Tehelka-sponsored Think Fest. By now it has become clear that what transpired during the high-power event not only happened more than once, but was, in effect, “rape”. Apologies are not going to cut it; nor can Tejpal’s removal from the helm of affairs at the magazine be considered an adequate response. The larger issue relates to how safe women employees are in their workplaces. Incidents like this expose how indifferent organisations, including the media, are to the Vishaka judgment which mandates the setting up of committees in every organisation to look into complaints of sexual harassment. Like in most sectors, in media organisations too, these committees, if instituted at all, are defunct, mostly to shield the powerful — in this case a male editor. No wonder then that Tejpal trotted out a so-called ‘apology’ letter, recusing himself from editorship for six months. The accused has donned the black robe of a judge and delivered an absurd sentence to himself. Tejpal says he made ‘an error of judgment’; Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury describes the sexual assault as an “untoward incident”. “I have already unconditionally apologised for my misconduct to the concerned journalist, but I feel impelled to atone further,” writes Tejpal. Moreover, Chaudhury has also been quoted as saying that this is purely an “internal matter” for Tehelka. Both Tejpal and Chaudhury seem to be oblivious of their responsibility to live up to the standards they have so long preached to others. In their religiously inspired desire to atone they overlook the idea of justice itself. The Supreme Court’s directions are very clear on sexual harassment. The matter cannot be confined to a weepy elegy of repentance. It’s a legal matter. Tehelka is legally, if not morally bound, to set up a free and fair investigation committee. Tarun Tejpal has to submit himself to the scrutiny that he wants every other accused to submit himself to in such sordid cases of the abuse of power. One could well ask if, in cases of the abuse of power by the police, Tehelka would let the offenders get away by saying it is a matter “internal” to them. To refer to rape as an internal matter is tantamount to covering up for the crime. The constant conversation in social media has acted as a catalyst in pitching uncomfortable questions at the centre of debates. All those who have spent considerable time in the newsroom have been silent witnesses to abuse of power by famous editors. Young reporters in established newspapers have shared their discomfort with colleagues and friends but there were no avenues for going public with these issues; no personal or public space to vent anger. For years women journalists have put up with sleazy conversations in newsrooms — heard sexist jokes swirling around them — and, if protesting, have been told not to be ‘bores’ and ‘prudes’. Newsroom culture is often disturbingly and aggressively masculine. Male camaraderie however extends beyond the newsroom. Men in positions of power, across the spectrum, talk and act disgustingly about women while others look on with approval. What could be more disconcerting than the poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar tweeting, “It is a shame that someone (Tejpal) with such impeccable values has committed such an act but unlike some he has the guts to accept and repent.” The proliferation of social media is disturbing the status-quo and creating new spaces of resistance; unspeakable truths are becoming spoken. In this transforming culture, male editors — there are no women counterparts at the helm — must learn to behave themselves. If not they must face the appropriate legal consequences. Apologies won’t work. http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?id=55521&boxid=30743&ed_date=2013-11-22&ed_code=820009&ed_page=3