When Times Of India (TOI) was starting operations in Goa,our local Press scared the readers with negative publicity like TOI would pursue the agenda of builders, news for sale etc.Now we find TOI giving more balanced and better copy on local issues. The local dailies are trying to copy format with page three news, instead of bettering the information on local issues. Investigative journalism is too much trouble. Not to mention todays public interest slant.Speaking to various letter writers, we have a common grouse of editing/censoring our main points.This valuable source of feedback appears to be treated with scant respect both by the Establishment and the local dailies. Just take one recent example: Reference Great Goan Illusion ( NT 12Aug), the whole expostulation could be summarised as "All Five Fingers Are Not The Same". However the article by no lesser person than the Editor,was trying to show the CM as mum who cannot satisfy the childrens different menu requirements, who tell her how to cut the Bhaji etc. Rebuff to goans and those protesting present state of affairs in Goa! I sent a brief letter with reference ,stating that uncles(MLAs and Vested Interests) are busy trying to dispossess her and also trying disowning the children from their assets. Children are already deprived of enough potable water, cooking infrastructure, cannot study/ access the internet and TV due power failures etc.The children also sorely miss their Papa!
Not one of my letters,however brief disagreeing/ holding a different view from the Editorials/ newspaper expostulations have so far been published.If this one was, I would have fired crackers with joy that our Press has some sense of humour, can take criticism, and are not biased! Thank God for the Internet and Goanet.
