Dr. Sindhu Manjesh delivers PP Gomathi Memorial Education Trust’s annual lecture
Says media houses should be critically questioned to restore principles of journalism in India
Mangaluru: The PP Gomathi Memorial Education Trust, in collaboration with the Department of Journalism at University College Mangaluru, recently hosted its annual lecture at the Ravindra Kalabhavana in the city. The guest for the event was Dr. Sindhu Manjesh, an award-winning journalist, Fullbright Humphrey Fellow, and former Lecturer at the University of Maine.
The lecture, titled "News Media in India: A Health Report, with Special Focus on Prognosis," delved into the current state of the media landscape in the country. Dr. Sindhu Manjesh, known for her insightful analysis and extensive experience in the field, provided a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities facing the Indian news media.
Addressing a diverse audience of students, faculty, and media professionals, Dr. Manjesh critically examined various aspects of the industry, from ethical considerations to technological advancements shaping the media narrative. The special focus on prognosis offered a forward-looking perspective, exploring potential trends and future scenarios for the news media in India.
Dr. Sindhu Manjesh highlighted a fundamental aspect of media's role by emphasizing that it doesn't create knowledge but rather serves as a conduit for sharing existing knowledge. In her perspective, she pointed out that news, a crucial component of media, acts as a vehicle for disseminating information that already exists in society. The news, she explained, plays a pivotal role in influencing public opinions on various matters, which, in turn, can significantly impact decisions such as voting.
Dr. Sindhu Manjesh further presented perspective on journalism, emphasizing its dual nature involving both a profit-oriented aspect and a crucial social responsibility. According to her, journalism extends beyond being a mere business; it carries a distinct social role that should not be compromised, even as media outlets operate as private enterprises.
In her view, journalism is more than a profit-driven profession; it is a service to society. While acknowledging the financial viability and sustainability of media outlets, she spoke about the importance of maintaining a balance between the business aspect and the inherent social responsibility of journalism. The idea is that journalists and media houses, as social institutions, have a duty to serve the public interest by providing accurate, unbiased information that contributes to an informed and engaged citizenry.
Dr. Sindhu Manjesh shed light on the critical distinction between public interest journalism and journalism driven by private sector interests. She drew attention to the concerning trend of declining public interest journalism over recent years and its implications for the news landscape. Her observations centered on the potential consequences when media houses, traditionally seen as platforms for public service and information dissemination, are primarily run by businessmen.
Dr. Manjesh highlighted the diminishing focus on public interest journalism, where media outlets traditionally played a vital role in informing the public about issues that matter to society at large. The decline of this form of journalism could result in a shift away from a broader, more balanced representation of news that serves the interests and concerns of the public.
“The observed trend toward more bias in news reporting was attributed to the decline of public interest journalism. When media outlets prioritize private interests over public service, there is a risk of presenting news through a particular lens, potentially leading to biased reporting. This shift could impact the diversity of perspectives and the depth of information available to the public,” she said.
Dr. Manjesh pointed out a specific challenge when a small number of businessmen or entities own a significant portion of media houses. This concentration of ownership can limit the diversity of voices and perspectives in the media landscape, potentially leading to a homogenized narrative that aligns with the interests of the owners.
She emphasized the crucial role of media consumers in understanding the potential agenda of media houses before consuming news. Her insights touched upon the concerning trend of eroding press freedom in India, with journalists and media outlets facing legal actions using laws initially intended for addressing more severe threats like terrorism, such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Additionally, she referred to the declining position of India in the Press Freedom Index, reflecting challenges to journalistic freedom.
She also underscored the critical issue of passive news consumption without due diligence in her discussion. Her perspective revolved around the challenges posed by individuals who consume news without critically questioning the information presented, leading to the reinforcement of pre-existing ideological biases.
She also highlighted the tendency of individuals to consume news that aligns with their existing ideological beliefs without critically evaluating the information. She also called for media consumers to question the credibility of the sources they rely on. By asking critical questions about the reliability, biases, and motivations of media outlets. Dr. Manjesh also advocated for the practice of fact-checking as an essential step in the news consumption process. Encouraging individuals to verify information from multiple sources.
She also pointed out the evolving dynamics of media credibility, particularly in the context of popularity metrics like TRPs (Television Rating Points) and raised concerns over trend of news channels favoring singular points of view and the influence of financial backing on media content.
The lecturer also emphasized that the future health of the media ecosystem depends on the engagement of the public. By actively choosing diverse sources of information, questioning biased narratives, and expressing dissatisfaction with unbalanced coverage, the public can play a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of media practices, she said
The lecture was followed by an engaging question-and-answer session, allowing the audience to interact with Dr. Sindhu Manjesh.
The PP Gomathi Memorial Education Trust and the Department of Journalism expressed their gratitude to Dr. Sindhu Manjesh for her valuable contribution to the discourse on media health in India. Dr Srinivas Kakkilaya welcomed the gathering and introduced Dr. Sindhu Manjesh. Gopal Shetty, Secretary of the trust presented the introduction of PP Gomathi.
Dr. Anasuya Rai, Principal of University College, Mangaluru along with other guests was present during the event.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
