Seminar on media and corruption held at Sahodaya

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 30: The Journalists’ Study Centre organized a seminar titled “Media and Corruption” as part of Press Day at Sahodaya at Balmatta on June 30, Thursday. Dinesh Amin Mattu, the assistant editor of Prajavani, was the resource person. 

Mr. Mattu said that corruption in journalism is directly related to the owner of the media, and not to editors or reporters. He added that paid news is published as per the instructions of the media owner. Since reporters disseminate information and knowledge to the public, they must be aware of journalistic ethics, he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stating that a majority of news channels are owned by different politicians who decide what should be published and what shouldn’t, he said that many other channels give priority to entertainment and focus on astrology and so on to fool viewers just to gain TRP. 

While media owners used to appoint hardworking, creative, and sincere journalists in the past, political parties now decide who should be selected for various posts. 

Varadesh Hiregange, the director of Manipal Institute of Communication, was another resource person. Stating that there were few colleges providing media education in the past, he said that today a number of colleges offer journalism courses. Stating that the relationship between public relations and journalism has resulted in paid news, he urged that the media should become the voice of the voiceless.

Sheena Shetty, the social ombudsman for DK district, said that compared to the media in other districts, the media in DK has functioned as a social worker in case of several issues such as sanitation, plastic, child labor, and others.

Basavalingaiah, the dramatist cum writer, presided over the event and said that local leaders and politicians are addicted to publicity, adding that they are ready to come in front of the camera and talk about any issue on the spot just to be in the limelight. He also pointed out that the channels are also playing a number of tricks to be the number-one and gain publicity.

After the seminar, Pushparaj Shetty of Vartha Bharathi led a debate on the subject. A number of lawyers, social workers, students, and rationalists participated in this seminar.