By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: In the world of new or alternative media a new chapter was added when on the initiative of web news portal www.mppost.com, a Mobile India (Mobile Media) was launched by Justice Markandey Katju (Rtd.), chairman of the Press Council of India, here at Hotel Palash on Sunday.
A seminar on the “Changing landscape of journalism and New Media” was also held on the occasion wherein apart from Justice Katju several senior journalists expressed their views on the subject.
Justice Markandey Katju (Rtd.), chairman of the Press Council of India, speaking at the launching ceremony of Mobile India (Mobile Media) in Bhopal.
While hailing Mr. Sarman Nagele, Editor of www.mppost.com, for his unique idea at the launching ceremony of Mobile India (Mobile Media), Justice Katju said Mobile media is a new concept of transmitting news and views which is an essential medium in the present circumstances with ever changing technology. He, however, cautioned about Mobile Media’s misuse and to prevent its adverse effects he emphasised that there must be some regulations formulated and there should be a code of conduct for it.
Speaking further on the occasion, Justice Katju highlighted in detail on various aspects of journalism and said the role of media should not be only transmitting news but also provide leadership to the society at large. Referring to the changing landscape of journalism, the media must get to the bottom of the various problems cropping up in society. He said that middle class people are on the streets nowadays because of inflation and unemployment. The media should take note of these facts, he added.
Today the Indian people are facing terrible problems – massive poverty (it is estimated that 75-80 % of our people are earning 25 rupees a day), huge unemployment, sky-rocketing prices (vegetables cost about Rs. 40 a kg.), lack of any proper healthcare for the poor people, child malnutrition (about half of our children are malnourished), farmers suicides etc.
On the freedom of the media he said that if it is helping raise the standard of living of the Indian people, it is a good thing and must be supported. If, however, such freedom is keeping the Indian people backward and poor it is a bad thing and must be suppressed. It follows that freedom of the media has by itself no value, and it will have value only if it helps improve the lives of the Indian masses. And the lives of our people will improve if scientific ideas are propagated and backward and unscientific ideas like casteism, communalism, and superstitions are combated.
The corporatization and crass commercialization of the media is no doubt largely responsible for this irresponsible behaviour. While corporates may have a legal right to own and run the media, this freedom has to be coupled with responsibilities. There cannot be freedom to defame, incite religious, caste, regional or racial riots, extort and blackmail, hold media trials, practice paid news, etc. Hence a balance has to be struck between freedom and responsibility, he stressed.
Justice Katju, who is also a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India, in his straight-forward manner replied to queries of Bhopal’s senior reporters, answering all their questions. He spoke in detail on topics of paid news, electronic channels, new media, including ethics.
Meanwhile, Sarman Nagele, Editor of www.mppost.com while welcoming the guests threw light on his new venture. He said that through the new media Mobile India (Mobile Media) while transmitting latest information and news to a population 7.5 crore of Madhya Pradesh will provide a platform to them to keep their views on any subject under the sun. For receiving news write MPPOST Mobile India (Mobile Media) and send SMS on 53030.
Nagele said a study has revealed that mobile phone service by 2014, according to the current speed of the expansion of the world’s population, will have more cell phones. The International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) has said this in a new report. The Information Society 2012, according to the ITU measuring just over 100 countries has more than the number of mobile phones than the population.
He informed that according to the ITU, the number of mobile phones will be 7.3 billion more than six billion by 2014, while the population will be seven billion. More than one billion mobile phones China has become the first country. India will soon join the list, he added.
On the occasion, senior journalist L. S. Hardenia; Mr. Sheetla Singh, Member of PCI, (New Delhi); Mr. Arun Kumar, Member of PCI (New Delhi); Mr. Manish Dixit, Dainik Bhaskar (Bhopal); Mr. Mrigendra Singh, in-charge editor, Dainik Jagran (Bhopal); Dr. Rakesh Pathak, editor, Pradesh Today (Gwalior); Mr. Deepak Tiwari, Bureau Chief MP, The Week; Mr. Manish Gautam, News Editor Doordarshan (Bhopal); Mr. Akshat Sharma, editor, Swadesh (Bhopal); Mr. Amit Kumar, Bureau Chief, MP, AajTak, Mr. Brijesh Rajput, Bureau Chief, MP. ABP News (Star News) expressed their views.
The programme was conducted with aplomb by Mr. Pushpendra Pal Singh, Head of the Journalism Department of Makhanlal Chaturvedi Journalism University. ([email protected])