[Assam] Of paid news and underpaid newsmen

[Nava Thakuria]

Of paid news and underpaid newsmen
The Statesman19 May 2014

When volumes of space are devoted to discussing the paid news menace,
it is always forgotten that most media employees remain deprived of
basic minimum facilities in northeast India. The paid news issue may
create the impression that politicians are feeding the media groups,
but the truth remains that employees never get financial benefits out
of it, though they have to face the negative consequences of the
practice.
The paid news syndrome emerged as a matter of serious concern for
various quarters, including the Election Commission, in the last few
weeks, as the country went through the largest electoral battle in the
world. Over 500 cases were registered against the political parties
that allegedly bribed some media outlets for facilitating favourable
poll-related news coverage
It goes without saying that in the practice of paid news, the owners
of newspapers and media outlets collect money from the political
leaders with some hidden understanding.
The arrangement also helps them to prepare a relatively lower election
budget even after getting the advantage of media coverage by the
bought media houses. “Simply put, paid news is a form of advertising
that masquerade as news. But I must admit that the corruption in the
media is a complex phenomenon where the paid news entails illegal
payments in cash or kind for content in publications and television
channels that appears as if it has been by unbiased and objective
journalists,” said Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, a media commentator.
Speaking to this writer from New Delhi, Guha Thakurta also noted that
despite the EC's best efforts, the difficulty in curbing this
phenomenon is that paid news is difficult to identify.
“Black money (which is also difficult to track) is usually involved in
paid news. Today much of the media is dominated by corporate
conglomerates that have a single goal of maximising profits. The
autonomy and the independence of the media get compromised because of
corruption within,” asserted Guha Thakurta.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on 9 April 2014 made a ruling that the
journalists and non-journalist of newspaper  news agency employees of
the country should get their pay hike under the recommendations of the
Majithia Wage Board. All Assam Media Employees Federation (AAMEF) came
out with a prompt statement hailing the apex court’s directive and it
urged the Union government to ensure the media employees engaged with
privately-owned satellite news channels too got systematic pay hike.
The AAMEF pointed out that around 80 per cent television employees of
northeast India are still performing their duties with 'pitiable
salaries, unlimited working hours and without any facilities mandated
by the country's labour laws, not to speak of any statutory wage
board’s guidelines'.
Hiten Mahanta, the president of AAMEF, also pointed out a different
phenomena that many media groups of the region prepare a loss-making
balancesheet annually to avoid paying proper benefits to their
employees.
“Except a few, it's a common practice for all the media barons to
divert the funds from the collected amount of money from the
advertisers to other non-media enterprises owned by their families.
With this evil practices, the newspaper owners continue siphoning away
the essential resource of the media groups for their selfish
interest,” added Mahanta.
Rupam Barua, president of Journalists' Forum Assam  advocates for a
social media audit of newspapers  private news channels of the region
such that the readers and viewers can find a transparent picture of
the financial dealings involved with their favourite media outlets.
“When we talk about the paid news menace, it creates the impression
that a huge amount of money from the politicians comes to the media
groups, of course illegally. But the irony is that the deals are not
fixed by the journalists or other employees. Rather it’s the
prerogative of the owners,” asserted Barua adding that the financial
benefits from the exercise quite naturally are sucked away by them
only, whereas everyone is affected by the crisis of credibility of the
particular media group concerned.

http://thestatesman.net/news/55334-of-paid-news-and-underpaid-newsmen.html

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Re: [Assam] FASS GENERAL BODY MEETING

[Bidyananda Barkakoty]

Mr. Neiphiu Rio’s Speech at NDA Parliamentary Meeting on 20th May 2014 
(Tuesday) in New Delhi 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UejZGmXgBQU
 
Mr.
Rio is a Member of Parliament (MP) from Nagaland and was/is Chief Minister of
Nagaland for three consecutive terms. Mr. Rio may be inducted into Mr. Modi’s
Council of Ministers. Mr. Rio will be of help in taking forward Ike’s proposal.
 
Bidyananda
Barkakoty
Guwahati
Cell
: 9435046211
 
On
Fri, May 2, 2014 at 9:17 PM, Madan Bezbaruah mpbezbar...@yahoo.co.in
wrote:
I
was delighted to read the proposal from Ike. As you know I chair a committee on
NE ( the work was suspended when the Code of Conduct came into operation) to
look onto the concerns of people from NE in the Metros. As part of our
tentative recommendations I was thinking of such a centre. We had a little
wider view -- wanted the centre to be 'one stop' centre for grievances,
counselling, orientation for people coming for the first time to the metro
about 'do's and dont's', spoken hindi classes etc. Any suggestions is welcome. 
It will be very helpful if a proper
proposal could be sent to me so that I can make it a part of our report after
consulting the other members. If it comes in the name of an organisation--like
FASS- it will be even better.
Can you also suggest a good name for the
centre-- instead of the bland centre, complex etc?-- a name that symbolises the
NE spirit.
Madan
Bezbaruah
 
 
On
Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 10:35 AM, Ike Sinha ikesinha_i...@hotmail.com
wrote:
Dear Mr. Rajen Barua,
Greetings from India.
I have received your mail and that FASS is having its General Annual
Meeting on Sunday April 27 ,2014 in Houston. Everyone seems to be sending
complimentary words and good wishes. But I am writing to give you a proper
idea and a commitment from all NE living abroad and FASS members all over
the world to come together and if you are really serious to promote the
interest of North East states ,it is suggested  that you plan to have
NORTH EAST STATES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE at New Delhi.
 The nation soon will have a new
government by 16 May 2014. The country
needs a change. The nation have not yet understood the potential of NE
States ,its resources and how it could involve in nation building. We are
surrounded by foreign countries all around and connected with mainland
India just by 22 km. All such good brains have moved to greener pastures.
So now it is time to do reverse investment and make all NE States
progressive and developed state.
POINTS TO BE NOTED
1. Government of India has a Ministry of DONER to look into the
interests of the NE people of all 8 NE States.
2. As an organization ,FASS to make sure that Government land to be
allotted at New Delhi and create a complex to be called NORTH EAST STATES
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
3. Make all MP's who will get selected to come together irrespective of
party lines to ask the Government of the day to allot such land.They will
all be taken as members but they have to work for their people in their
constituencies.
 4. The complex to have independent state
pavilion who would sell
products of their states on daily basis.
5. All handicraft /handloom products.
6. Convert this place as a Cultural Center with  at least two or three
restaurants providing both the food of the NE and also other Indian
/continental food . Employ only people from the NE States.
7. All NE people become members and they must have a Membership number.
8. Have a state of the art auditorium. Hire it out when the state
functions not held.
9. Invite all foreign delegation who visit India ,to come to this Center
and to know more about the NE States.
10. Have a Conference room,library with all authors from the respective
states to be able to display their product.
11. Let it be a Tourist place for all foreigners to be able to see all
the NE States under one roof.
12. Let this Center be the doorway to the NE States.
13. Create Travel Facility and Information Center.
14. Create atmosphere for Exports for all NE products,for eg:
Tea,Bamboo,Cane,Handicraft,Hand loom products,herbal products,organic
food,Film release,book release ,fashion show of designers from NE.You hire
out the place to other designers for their event and that money goes into
the upkeep and maintenance of the Center.
15. The allotment of land must be negotiated with Chairman,NDMC so that
the site must be centrally located.
16.All state events to be showcased here.
17. Let this place be vibrant and an everyday event place.
In fact ,I had taken 1 year to prepare this project few years ago.I have
discussed this subject with Mr. Mukundakam Sharma when he was
President,Assam Association but he could not take any initiative. The
project is ready already with me.It was my dream to show the potential of
NE people and their creative talents which is a great resource not yet
tapped properly by any Government.If allowed to begin this venture at New
Delhi,in less than 6 months,we can employ 40 thousand people,5000 per state.
This is my