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Media and democracy: The Asian Expe
- Subject: Media and democracy: The Asian Expe
- From: mizzima@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 10:00:00
Media and Democracy: The Asian Experience
The 2nd Day Press Release: September 19, 2000 Pune
The second day of the workshop on Media and Democracy: The Asian Experience,
organized jointly by Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication (SIMC) and
the Mizzima News Group got underway today at the Assembly Hall of the
Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology (SCIT) at Atur Centre, Pune.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Rajashree Dasgupta, an active womens? rights
activist dwelt at length on Women and Media: Experience of the 80s. She felt
that media responds to social change but ?media? also projects partial
reality?. According to her media, has never led a womens? movement. She
strongly felt that in this day and age of commercialization of media ?if the
reader can be made to think then that is good journalism?.
There was also a country presentation by Yindee Lertcheeroenchok of Thailand
is considered to be an expert in ASEAN affairs and Thai foreign policy. She
cautioned journalists against falling into the trap of becoming loyal to any
political party ?because that could lead to a complete polarization of
public opinion?.
Prof. U. K. Chowdhury, Director, SIMC expressed doubts about Ms. Rajeshri
Dasgupta?s contention that women are getting into professional positions in
large numbers. He felt that women are actually being coopted into the system
rather than being accepted perse. On the information technology of the 21s
Century, the Professor opined that convergence was the new mantra and that
all media including new media would coexist. ?However presentation styles
have changed and are being customized to the requirements of different
media?. He also felt that it?s an essential prerequisite of the new age that
media personnel have to be techno savvy. In the ultimate analysis it?s the
man behind the machine and its more the contents than the technology that
matter.
Ms. Madhu Kishwar editor of the women?s magazine, Manushi accused the media
of bracketing journalists like her in the ?feminist category? and declared
that although she espouses genuine feministic issues, she is not a feminist
perse. She was speaking on the topic of Voluntary Slavery: Media dependent
on govt. patronage.
There was also a documentary film show by Australian filmmaker Tim Bryson
who spoke on Reconciliation for Aboriginal Australia.
The afternoon session was marked by an interactive discussion between the
students and the participants on the controversial theme of whether media
should take sides or not.
On the whole, the workshop was well attended by journalists and activists
from Burma, Thailand among other Asian countries. Delegates from Australia
and Canada were also present on the occasion. Tomorrow would be the third
and final day of the workshop at the same venue.
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