Global Perspective on Indian Media

Louise Roug, Global News Editor of Mashable, a leading US-based online news portal, was in Hyderabad recently to interact with city-based journalists at a workshop on ‘New Media Journalism’. With her vast experience in journalism, Louise spoke about the major issues concerning journalists and journalistic practices across the globe. 

In a candid talk with Metro India, she explained the importance of experimenting with new ideas in dissemination of news. Louise worked for Los Angeles Times for almost a decade covering political developments in the Middle East including in Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza and Syria. She has Pulitzer Prize (2007), Overseas Press Club Award (2007), Times Editorial Award for Beat Reporting (2006) among other awards to her credit.

What were the global trends and challenges for reporting and journalism when you started your career?
I started my career in professional journalism in the 
year 2004 with Los Angeles Times and was posted at 
Baghdad. The challenges were almost same as they are today, however, the threat to the lives of journalists was more. Reporting in conflict-ridden areas is obviously full of challenges for a journalist. During my stay in Baghdad, I was provided with language interpreters to help me communicate with the local populace. I feel taking the interpreters at their word was the biggest challenge. But I started my global interaction experiences from Bosnia in 1994 when a war was going on there.


How do you see Indian media?
It seems to me that Indian media is more of opinion-based like the UK media. In US, most of the media houses can be termed as free media, in my view. Also, most of the Indian media houses don’t have foreign bureaus.

What kind of transformation does Indian media needs in your view?
I think training in digital media tools within news rooms is needed in India. Also, there is a need for continuous training for the journalists. Though most of the newspaper and television channels are on social media these days, they need more training.

What do Indian journalists need to do for global presence?
Continuous experimentation is very important. Creating space on the social media, blogs and various other tools is also necessary. Journalists should take inspiration from people across the globe.

Any suggestions to young journalists?
People have become very smart. Even politicians are active on the social networking sites. Journalists should also have their presence on social media. You should be smarter than politicians. However, newspapers will not disappear despite a surge in popularity of social networking websites and new media.

TSPSC to Take Time for Syllabus Change

Contrary to expectations, the Syllabus Committee set up by Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) has not finalised any changes to the syllabus for competitive examinations. However it submitted a report to the commission recommending few minor changes to the existing scheme of the recruitment procedure after holding a day-long meeting at TSPSC office.

Syllabus Committee wants to ensure that the changed syllabus would have all important things that are necessary for the students of Telangana

Syllabus Committee head Prof G Haragopal said that the committee had gone through the existing syllabus and scheme during the meetings held so far. He said that only the ‘Scheme’ of syllabus and recruitment procedure was submitted to the commission. The ‘Scheme’ includes the pattern of question papers, composition of topics to be covered, assigning marks to the topics and other aspects of the selection procedure. He said that changes in the syllabus would be submitted later along with the notification itself.

He said, “Changing syllabus is a sensitive matter and decision in that regard needs some more time. The proposals in syllabus change will come along with the notification by the commission.” When asked about Group II examination pattern, he replied that there would not be major changes in the pattern. He said, “Since we don’t want to worry the students, we would not suggest any major changes in Group II pattern.” He said that it would be ensured that the changed syllabus would have all the important things that were necessary for the students of Telangana.

Earlier in the day, the committee met for the third time and held discussions on various issues related to the syllabus components and scheme. He reiterated keeping in view students’ aspirations, major changes would not be done to the syllabus. He reiterated that the discussions were held to see the existing procedure of recruitment.

Groupism, Poor Infrastructure Ruined the Academics

Poor infrastructure coupled with groupism among the faculty members of the animation department have brought academic sessions to a standstill at the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU) with the college management assuring students that they would resume classes only after the requisite infrastructure is put in place over the next two months. The authorities suspended the classes for two months starting January 24 and decided to resume functioning after vacation. 

Students have been crying foul over the rampant groupism among students, who are being supported by a few faculty members. They have been boycotting classes since January 6. The authorities called for a meeting with them and also conducted reviews with other administrators of the university. Finally, a committee of professors decided to sack all the 11 faculty members teaching various topics to the animation department and the resolution is pending with the varsity registrar.

A second year animation student M Mallesh said that university was charging them considerable amounts as tuition fee, but was neither providing basic infrastructure facilities like computers with the right kind of software nor proper faculty. University registrar Kavita Daryani Rao said that classes would commence as soon as the infrastructure is provided. She said, “We need computers, laboratory and better faculty for the students.

However, since animation is not a single subject and encompasses various subjects, it is quite difficult to get a suitable faculty with the requisite qualifications. We are roping in many experts who can cover the large number of topics in animation. Proposals have been placed to buy 60 computers and other infrastructure for the students.” Principal of the College of Fine Arts B Srinivas Reddy said that students are complaining about poor communication and language skills of the existing faculty and said that the language of artists would be visuals and linguistic expertise does not matter.

He said that probable groupism among the faculty members and favouritism could have led to the outrageous protest of the students this year. He said, “I feel that division among the faculty has created groups among students and consequentially resulted in the present impasse.” He said that a resolution to sack the faculty members of animation department, recruited on contract, was adopted by a committee set up by the JNAFAU registrar. The committee, which included professors from various departments, sent the resolution to the vice-chancellor for further action. Members of the faculty at the animation department were not available for a comment on the controversy.

Swine Flu Affects Numaish Rush

Increasing number of swine flu deaths and positive cases in the state and particularly in the twin cities are deterring people from visiting Numaish, the All India Industrial Exhibition, thus affecting the business. During the last one week, the exhibition has seen a decline in the number of visitors as several deaths were reported in this period. Though the flu death was first reported in early December last, the number of visitors was voluminous as usual.

However, the volume of visitors started declining as the death toll of swine flu positive cases rose. According to sources, there has been a gradual decline in the number of visitors for the last three days. Generally, the peek business days at Exhibition start from January last week and remain till the end. The outbreak of swine flu causing deaths of several people seems to have hit the business at Exhibition. Usually, the number of visitors to the Exhibition ranges from 40 to 50,000 every day. On holidays, the footfall increases five thousands.

But due to the constant advertisement by the state government instructing people to avoid crowded places the number has decreased considerably. R Sukesh Reddy, a volunteer and security in charge at exhibition grounds said that during the last week the number of visitors came down by few thousands. He said, “Awareness campaign by the government over the swine flu resulted in decreasing the number of visitors to the exhibition. We have been observing for few days now that the volume of people coming here decreased.”

He however said that this decline in number would not affect the business in high volumes and expressed the hope that this situation would not remain for long. The stall owners in the exhibition appeared worried over the swine flu and government advisory for the people. The exhibition remains up to February 15.

Sensitizing Aspirants of Executive Posts Is Agenda

Mohammed Younus 
Syllabus Committee, constituted by the Telangana Public Service Commission to suggest changes to the existing syllabus of all competitive examinations, is keen on sensitising candidates appearing for executive and administrative posts on local issues prevailing in the State. The committee which discussed the change in syllabus recently focused on creating awareness and a strong understanding of the local issues among aspirants. 

An overhaul of the syllabus will be done at a later stage. But, some crucial part of the syllabus will be changed 

Professors, educationists and experts of the committee opined that a change in syllabus would not be for name sake. Though there is no official outcome on the meetings, it is learnt that the committee members are unanimous on improving the objectivity of the examination. Syllabus Committee head Prof G Haragopal said that an overhaul of the syllabus would be done at a later stage. He said that for the current year, the Syllabus Committee would not make major changes in the syllabus and pattern. But, some crucial part of the syllabus would be changed. 

He said, “Sensitising the aspirant candidates on the socio-geographic and socio-economic issues of the State is necessary. Several aspects on AP would be replaced with that of Telangana.” “There is a debate going on for changes in the pattern of Group II examinations as recruitments are done of executive posts. Objective type questions alone cannot assess the candidates appropriately. It needs a total relook”, he informed. 

The Syllabus Committee would meet on January 29 to give the final touches to the already prepared framework and would submit the proposed changes to the commission on January 30. The members have said that changes in the curriculum have been proposed by taking a realistic view of the whole situation.

Rejig in School Syllabus with TS Movement

Mohammed Younus 
From the next academic year, TS students would study the role played by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in the Telangana movement, going by the recommendations reportedly finalized by the State Council for Educational Research and Training upon completion of its exercise for revamping the syllabus for schools of the State. The recent Telangana movement would be included in the syllabus at the school level, highlighting the role of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and its president K Chandrashekhar Rao, Chief Minister of the newly created State. The major changes would be in Telugu and Social Studies subjects at the primary and secondary levels. 

"Role of TS legends to be highlighted"

The SCERT has proposed several changes in the syllabus to be taught from the next academic year. In Telugu, the history of poets, writers and authors from the Telangana region would be included, removing the ones from the Seemandhra region. History of educationists from Telangana who had been ignored in the past would also form part of the new syllabus. The history books would have the Chronicles of Telangana dating back to the merger of the erstwhile Hyderabad State into Indian Union and all the major events up to the formation of Telangana.

According to the School Education Department officials, the history of movements during the Nizam’s regime, Hyderabad’s merger, first democratic government, agitations pertaining to Mulki Rules, role of Osmania University students, the 1969 Telangana movement and the 1972 Jai Andhra movement would be included in the history section. Besides, the renewed movement for statehood, the role of TRS, TNGO’s, KCR’s fast-unto-death and announcement of formation of the separate state would be included. Prominent people from Telangana involved in various movements from 1911 to 1948 would find place in the history books. The role of Hyderabad State Congress, Andhrjana Sabha, Ravi Narayan Reddy, Ramanada Tirtha in the Telangana movement would be discussed elaborately.

Farmers’ agitations, Telangana Armed Struggle, history of Maqdoom Mohiuddin, Shaikh Bandagi, Chakali Ailamma, Doddi Komuraiah and V Ramchandra Reddy are among the other topics that would find place in the revised syllabus. This whole exercise of the SCERT virtually eliminates from the syllabus information pertaining to Seemandhra-related poets, writers, historians, movements and cultural events.

Row Over Sackings in EFLU

Mohammed Younus  
Hyderabad : Students and employees of the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) are crying foul over the unlawful sackings of a few Class IV employees in the university. Students alleged that the administration has been using the services of an employee B Jayaram, appointed on an ad hoc basis, to cover their tracks on the campus. According to student unions, the university administration has given several key responsibilities to him, though his appointment was not made as per the norms.

According to students, the CAG report had also held EFLU responsible for illegal appointment of office attendant Jayaram who was later appointed as university caretaker. It is alleged that after attaining the position of caretaker, Jayaram has been harassing the Class IV employees and has sacked nearly 10 employees. It was also alleged that he demanded Rs 50,000 from a sacked employee Mariyamma to take her back on rolls. Telangana Students Association secretary B Sateesh said that university administration is completely against the SC/ST students and employees on the campus and is showing utmost discrimination towards marginalised sections.

He said that the appointment of Jayaram was illegal as the Universities Act permits the vice-chancellor to recruit only teaching staff and not non-teaching staff. He also said that in case of appointing the non-teaching staff, it should not be for a period exceeding six months. It is said that Jayaram and his brother were using political clout for continuing their activities in the varsity and were harassing women employees.

Complaints have also been lodged with the university administration in this regard, he said. Attempts to contact the vice-chancellor and other officials of the varsity were futile. The students demanded an enquiry into this matter and bring all the sacked employees back on rolls.