Politicians-journalists bond harming journalism'

[email protected] (CD Network)
June 30, 2011

Mangalore, June 30: Even though the phenomenon of paid news and corruption scrolled into the field of media several years ago, the growing bond between politicians and journalists in recent years has resulted in the disappearance of honesty in the journalism, lamented senior journalist Dinesh Amin Mattu.

He was presenting his views on media and corruption at a seminar and interaction programme organized by city based 'Journalists Study Centre' here on Thursday to mark Kannada Press Day.

Mr Mattu pointed out that the journalism, which was once a medium of freedom struggle and social change in India, has turned into a pure 'industry' losing all its commitments, with the advent of economic liberalisation in 1990s. “When journalism got reduced to be a mere industry, 'social responsibility' became the victim,” he added.

He said although the concept of 'paid news', suddenly emerged as a topic of argument a couple of years ago, its existence had already changed the course of many major English newspapers, especially financial newspapers in the country almost two decades ago.

“Owing to the 'paid news' and 'advertisements' the English language newspapers were far ahead in profit compared to Kannada and other regional language newspapers, despite they being ahead in circulation. In this backdrop, the regional language newspapers began to concentrate towards their influential fields and finally landed in politics,” Mr Mattu said adding that a considerable number of regional language newspapers and televisions in states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are in the hands of politicians belonging to various parties.

Recalling the enmity between former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Mr Mattu said, once presspersons had considered that politicians were their biggest enemies, but quite opposite to this belief, now both have become close friends.

Awakened Society

Mr Mattu also said that despite the fact that media has played a crucial role in social and political change in the past, it can influence only an awakened society. “When the general people themselves become corrupt, media cannot create any miracle,” he said.

“What can the media do, when people dare to re-elect corrupt politicians again and again despite knowing their scandals?” he questioned, pointing fingers at members of Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Recalling the quarter-century old socio-political scenario of Karnataka, Mr Mattu said in 1984 Lok Sabha polls Congress party had bagged 24 seats MP seats in Karnataka giving a crushing blow to the then Janata Government led by Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde. However in the Assembly polls held mere two months after the Lok Sabha poll, the Congress had faced a crucial defeat against Hegde's Party. “But, now we cannot expect such a sudden change in the attitude of voters within a gap of two moths,” he said.

Speaking on 'Media and Moral Values', Manipal Institution of Communication Director Varadesh Hiregange, urged the newsmen not to forget the doctrine of journalism, i.e., to be the voice of voiceless.

He also exhorted the reporters to take the victim's position while reporting and never lack sympathy towards poor.

NREG Ombudsman Sheena Shetty spoke on 'local issue and media'. Senior theater personality Basavalingaiah presided over the programme.

The seminar followed by the interaction session. Over a hundred activists, journalists and journalism students took part in the programme.

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News Network
November 22,2024

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Bengaluru, Nov 22: For the second day running, the Karnataka BJP on Friday staged a statewide protest condemning the government’s alleged move to notify land of farmers as Waqf property.

The BJP staged a protest before the offices of Deputy Commissioners at district headquarters.

The BJP leaders are vehemently demanding that the state government cancel a 1974 Gazette notification in this regard.

The agitators are also demanding scrapping of the Waqf Board and the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmad Khan.

The BJP MLAs, MLCs, MPs gathered in the premises of Freedom Park and staged a protest under the leadership of Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and slammed the state government.

MLA T.S. Srivatsa led the protest in Mysuru and hundreds of party workers and farmers staged the protest under the leadership of former MP Pratap Simha in Kodagu.

Former MP Sumalatha Ambareesh led the agitation in Mandya.

This was the first time that Sumalatha took part in the party’s programme after the Lok Sabha elections.

State President B.Y. Vijayendra claimed, “The Congress government in Karnataka is issuing notices to farmers claiming the ownership of their lands to the Waqf Board and pushing them on the streets overnight.”

In the first week of December, three teams formed by the BJP will travel across the state and record the grievances of farmers.

“The state government is attempting to snatch away the lands belonging to temples as well,” Vijayendra alleged and added that the teams would comprise all senior leaders of the BJP.

Meanwhile, the police have taken Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik into custody while staging a protest march to the office of Zameer Ahmad Khan in Bengaluru.

Muthalik along with Hindutva activists was planning to lay siege to Zameer’s office over the Waqf row.

The police stopped Muthalik and requested him to submit the memorandum by reaching the minister’s office in a vehicle. However, Muthalik refused to go with the police and continued his footmarch. The police took him into custody following arguments.

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News Network
November 26,2024

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Bengaluru: The Janata Dal (Secular) is grappling with its most tumultuous political crisis yet, with speculation rife about imminent defections among its lawmakers. This storm comes in the aftermath of party scion Nikhil Kumaraswamy's humiliating defeat in the Channapatna bypoll—his third consecutive electoral loss after setbacks in Mandya (2019) and Ramanagara (2023). With the regional party’s Assembly tally shrinking to 18 from 19, questions are being raised about its survival.

The murmurs of rebellion were amplified on Monday when Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Congress MLA CP Yogeshwar openly hinted at possible desertions within the JD(S) ranks. Yogeshwar, newly elected from Channapatna, declared he could orchestrate a migration of JD(S) MLAs to Congress. “I’ll meet them at the Belagavi session. Within a month, they’ll be in Congress,” he confidently stated during a televised interview. Yogeshwar has a history of engineering defections, having played a pivotal role in the collapse of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2019 during his stint with the BJP.

Dinesh Gundu Rao, not mincing words, slammed the JD(S) leadership for fostering "self-serving politics," criticizing the HD Deve Gowda family for failing to nurture party talent. “There’s no trust. Their MLAs will seek survival—either in BJP or Congress,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, the expelled JD(S) state president CM Ibrahim added fuel to the fire by claiming that 12-13 MLAs are "disillusioned" with the current leadership. Speculations around senior JD(S) leader GT Deve Gowda joining Congress have also intensified. DK Shivakumar, Karnataka’s Deputy CM and Congress president, described GT Deve Gowda as a “valuable leader” who might be frustrated with the party’s internal dynamics.

While Congress leaders seem eager to poach JD(S) legislators, the BJP is not far behind in targeting the floundering party. The situation signals a decisive moment for the JD(S), as its survival now hinges on how it manages this brewing storm of discontent.

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News Network
November 17,2024

Mangaluru: District-in-Charge Minister and Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao, announced that a day-care chemotherapy centre will soon be established at District Wenlock Hospital. Speaking to mediapersons after reviewing the activities at Wenlock and Government Lady Goschen Hospital, he shared the government’s plans to enhance healthcare services in the region.

Key Initiatives Announced

•    Day-Care Chemotherapy Centre:

  • Ten beds will be reserved for cancer patients.
  • The government will collaborate with Yenepoya Hospital to provide chemotherapy treatments.
  • All required facilities for the centre are already in place, awaiting inauguration by the Chief Minister.

•    Wenlock Hospital Facelift:

  • Critical Care Block: To be built at a cost of ₹24 crore.
  • Integrated Public Health (IPH) Lab: Planned with a budget of ₹1 crore.
  • New OPD Block: As per a 2017 agreement, KMC Hospital will take up construction. Discussions with KMC management are underway.

•    Additional Requirements:

  • A new mortuary and post-mortem building.
  • Paramedical college building.
  • Modern kitchen.
  • Bridge connecting two buildings within the hospital.

•    Total facelift cost: ₹6 crore to ₹10 crore, utilizing funds from the Department of Health and Family Welfare and CSR contributions.

•    Timeline:
By December or January, priority works will be finalized. The superintendents of Wenlock and Lady Goschen Hospitals are scheduled to visit Bengaluru next week to discuss these projects.

•    MRI Fee Allegations:
The minister assured that allegations of patients being charged for MRI scans at Wenlock Hospital will be resolved at the earliest.
These measures aim to improve healthcare accessibility and infrastructure, positioning Wenlock Hospital as a state-of-the-art facility in the region.

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