Central law on attacks on scribes likely
I&B Minister calls for self-restraint by media
Calling for “self restraint” rather than self regulation, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar indicated that the Union Government is looking at the possibility of bringing in a Central Act to punish attackers on media professionals.
Speaking as the guest of honour at the Press Club Mumbai’s National Redink Awards For Excellence in Journalism 2014 event on Saturday night, Mr Javadekar said the government is studying the impact of law to check attacks on journalists in the states that implemented it. “We will then look at the possibility of a central law,” he said.
The NDA government, he said, was fully committed to ensure full freedom of the Press. But there is nothing like absolute freedom and the society expects the media to be accurate, balanced and fair in its approach. In this context, he said he favoured self restraint by the media, rather than the much talked about self regulation.
He allayed apprehensions that the print medium will dwindle as the electronic medium grows. “Print media will also grow with the rising literacy in the country.” He added.
For those who may have thought that Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan is a serious speaker, he is a pleasant surprise! He showed two unknown aspects of his personality – wit and sarcasm – at the Press Club Redink Awards night.
Deviating from his prepared speech, he came down heavily on the NOTA (None Of The Above) element of the ballot paper and said: “It is nonsense”.
“The person who does not go to vote expresses his feeling of NOTA anyway,” he said and pointed out that “It is a sheer waste of time for him (to go to the polling booth) and vote for NOTA.”
Admiring the popular 9 PM News Hour anchor Arnab Goswami, the governor said he did not mind the aggressive questioning. “It is necessary,” he said and called upon the younger generation to watch such shows and learn about current affairs.
“It is only four years since the RedInk Awards were instituted. The awards have already got national recognition. I congratulate the Press Club of Mumbai for setting very high standards of selection of the recipients of this award” Governor said.
Veteran Hindi journalist Mrinal Pande was felicitated with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” that honoured excellence in Indian Journalism.
The evening began with a shrilling debate 'Elections 2014: Were We Fair, Or Did We Stoke the NaMo Wave?', moderated by Star India CEO Uday Shankar, and with veteran journalist Kumar Ketkar, Times Now Editor-In-Chief Arnab Goswami and CNN-IBN Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai and Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman & National Creative Director Ogilvy & Mather India on the panel.
Rajdeep regretted that a section of the media promoted “Supari Journalism” and some journalists acted as Cheer Leaders during the election campaign by refusing to see beyond Modi. “We have lost the capability to look beyond (sensational) headlines,” he said. Modi is a gifted and natural orator and he had virtually no contest in Rahul Gandhi, he added.
Arnab too said Modi had no competition whatsoever. “But a section of the Delhi media tends to get too close to politicians thus affecting their reporting,” he said. For instance, it was like a sin to criticize Manmohan Singh in Delhi even during the height of various scams.
Kumar Ketkar said media pampered Modi and they stoked the NaMo wave by not reporting other important events and happenings.
Adman Piyush Pandey said media "didn't create a wave, it just rode a wave". "When the Indian cricket team wins, everyone talks about Dhoni."
Mrinal Pande, acknowledging award, felt that Hindi Media continues to play second fiddle to English Media. Hindi journalists should stop behaving like “outhouse boys”, shed inhibitions and develop self confidence.
In other sections of the RedInk Awards, 10 panels of juries were constituted from among distinguished citizens, senior journalists and industry experts to judge over 800 entries in print, online and television entries. From this intense competition have emerged nearly 31 winners and runners-up who will receive cash prizes of Rs one lakh in each of the 14 competitive categories.
Fountain Ink was awarded the Best Red Ink Start-Up award, The best start-up award has been instituted this year to recognize media initiatives that have performed well soon after launch. Fountain Ink – launched relatively recently in 2011 – has made a mark this year with your journalists winning a record four awards in the line-up today.
Star India was the Presenting Partner for The Press Club’s Redink Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2014.
The awards partners were Yes Bank, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Aditya Birla Group, Zee Entertainment, BSE, Eros International and Adani Group; Ideation and branding partners: Open-Design; communication partners are DNA, exchange4media, Adfactors PR and Zee Business. The awards were supported by Hanmer MSL, Concept PR, Integral PR and Ranbakshi Communications
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