Are We Becoming A Nation Of Peeping Toms, Gonsalves Asks Journalists By SAR NEWS
BANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- Sting journalism has come with a big bang and the power of the media, especially the television channels, is growing, said Michael Gonsalves, the president of the Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA). "Sting operation has tasted blood and is likely to proliferate. Sting operations with spy cams or hidden cameras constitute a huge black hole at a moral centre of Indian journalism and it is important for us to sift fact from fiction and wrong from right," Mr. Gonsalves said in his address to the 12th National Convention Of Christian Journalists held in Bangalore, April 28-29. Spy cams are not just being used by sting journalists to expose corruption in the larger public interest but they are increasingly being used to titillate viewers to push up TV ratings by channels, by political opponents to settle scores, by con artists to blackmail and make a fast buck, Mr. Gonsalves told the Conference whose chosen theme was 'Sting Journalism and the Future of the Media'. "The sensational journalism has pushed out serious issues. The lurid has replaced the meaningful. Are we becoming a nation of peeping Toms?" asked the president of Asia's largest Catholic press organisation. Tehelka in 2001 became the mother of all stings with a sensational expose and very few quarreled with it but in the spring of 2005 when the sting became routine, many eyebrows were raised, he said. While TV channels indulged in "keyhole journalism" to get more viewers, the print journalism had its share of Page Three phenomenon and sex surveys to increase circulation in a dog-eat-dog competing, tight market. He said that journalists and media houses involved in sting operations vehemently argued for the freedom of expression and their bounden duty to expose corrupt public personalities. "Those on the other side, with equal gusto raised the issue of professional ethics, morality and decency of means and declared that end does not justify means. Using questionable and unethical methods in a noble profession would hardly serve the cause of truth and the common good. Let us not pretend that all journalism is noble and all means are ethical," Mr. Gonsalves emphasised. The Indian Catholic Press Association, affiliated to the Geneva-based International Catholic Union of the Press, with members from almost all continents and countries, is committed to the pursuit and promotion of journalism with a conscience, journalism with age-old values, journalism with a moral and ethical high-ground and to be a voice of the majority voiceless masses, the president of the 42-year-old ICPA said. "That is why we chose 'Sting Journalism and the Future of the Media" as the theme of the 12th National Convention of Christian Journalists," he added. Tarun Tejpal, Editori-in-Chief of Tehelka, Justice N. Venkatachala of Lok Ayukta (corruption watchdog), Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Agra, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India Commission for Social Communications, Bishop Thomas Dabre of Vasai, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India's Doctrinal Commission along with eminent editors and journalists from both print and broadcast media enlightened the convention. * * * * * Catholic Scribes Vow To Put Back 'Sting' Into Journalism By SAR NEWS BANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- Sting journalism is one of the tools in exposing corruption and nepotism, the Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA), Asia's largest Catholic journalists' organisation, has said. "It also checks the conduct of the people in authority and makes them transparent and accountable to the public," said a statement of the ICPA's 12th National Convention Of Christian Journalists held in Bangalore, April 28-29. "This media tool endorses the time-honoured qualities of journalists such as courage, resourcefulness and perseverance in exposing corruption," the statement issued by president Michael Gonsalves of the 42-year-old ICPA said. "Though sting journalism is an effective tool for media practice there are pitfalls. First, it has led to mock-ups, entrapments, vendetta and the flouting of the laws of the land. These operations provide content which borders on sensationalism, titillation and entertainment. "Also the practices have become trivial, repetitive and pedestrian. This journalism raises many ethical issues such as the flouting of laws and infringement of the tenets of the Constitution, not serving public interest, infringes on the rights of privacy leading to defamation and character assassination," the statement added. The members of the ICPA appreciated the new wave in journalism, but cautioned the media people about its pitfalls. The ICPA committed to put back the sting into journalism practice and invited the media fraternity do the same. It suggested that the core values of journalism should be practised in its own media institutions and that ethical principles should be upheld. * * * * * Sting Operation 'High Priest' Among Indian Catholic Press Association Awardees By SAR NEWS BANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- The Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA), Asia's largest Catholic press organisation, presented its annual awards for 2006 at its 12th National Convention of Christian Journalists held in Bangalore, April 28. The award consists of a cash prize of Rs.10,000, a memento and a citation. The ICPA Fr. John Barrett Award for the best reporter for SAR News 2006 (South Asian Religious News) was given to C.K. George of Kerala for "being a frontline reporter" and "prolific in his quality output of the news." Subhas Prasad Charles from Varanasi was awarded the ICPA Swami Devanand Chakkungal Award for Hindi Journalism. "He has voiced the careers of the social issues affecting the Christian community in the Hindi press," the citation said. The ICPA Award for Best Reportage on Scheduled Castes' Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes was presented to Ajith Lawrence for his coverage on the exploitation of the marginalised people in southern India. Vincent D'Souza, the Editor of Mylapore Times, Chennai, bagged the ICPA Fr. Luis Carenno Award "for his contribution to the concept of community journalism in India, a trend that is not seen in the mainstream medium today." Pauline Father Alphonso Elengickal, the outgoing Editor of the 44-year-old monthly youth magazine The Teenager, was honoured with the ICPA Life Time Achievement Award. The special ICPA–Manipal Awards were given to Justice Venkatachala, Lok Ayukta (public watchdog), Bangalore, and Tarun Tejpal, Editor-in-Chief, Tehelka weekly magazine, in recognition of their contribution to ethics and values. -- ---------------------------------------------------------- Frederick 'FN' Noronha | Yahoomessenger: fredericknoronha http://fn.goa-india.org | [EMAIL PROTECTED] Independent Journalist | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9822122436 ---------------------------------------------------------- Photographs from Goa: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/ _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)