By Jessica Albuquerque

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Indian Media hasn’t always been the most ethical or accurate form of media but then again, most media isn’t. Though, when someone like the iconic Sri Devi dies, a woman who count less Indians love and adore for her talent in acting and dancing, you’d expect that the media would treat her death with dignity and respect. On the contrary, the Indian media loves to prove people wrong.

Sri Devi’s death showed us just how little respect Indian media has for dead famous people. From the speculations of whether it was a suicide or murder, to re enacting her death and then slandering her daughter for cutting a cake for her birthday with her family a week later, the news never seized to amaze.

It’s sad to see what Indian media is willing to do for TRPs. Slandering someone’s name who isn’t there to defend themselves, blaming Sri Devi for her death and conducting the post mortem as if they were doctors by stating that she had a heart attack due to weight loss pills and then alcohol, not even sparing her grieving husband.

In a large and populated country such as India, where a vast number of the population blindly believes what the media says as gospel truth, isn’t it the media’s job to report responsibly?

Sri Devi’s death is only one example. Every day we see Indian news papers and news channels shoving fake news down people’s throats and sensationalising it under the headline ‘Breaking News’. If the news isn’t going to be ethical and responsible then how will the people reading it benefit from what is put out there? How are people going to distinguish between actual facts and hyped sensationalism?

To all the future Journalist- sensational news sells, but don’t forget that news is about informing the public about facts and truth so that they can form an opinion themselves.

Knowledge is something that is gained not only from books but, from our personal experiences to a great extent. This year Media Tour to Bangalore from 11 to 16 November, 2017 gave students a wide space to learn a n d understand the dynamics of the media Industry.
We visited Ramya Reprogragphic Pvt. Ltd. one of Bangalore’s leading Offset and Digital Printers with a client base that spans across the world. The students got a glimpse e of the various equipment and raw materials utilized to print sophisticated designs for superlative quality and finish. Everyone, besides the director several other employees play an indispensable role to carry out the printing task in this organisation. After Ramya, we headed to The Practice, a Public Relations firm at Indra Nagar. We were given an understanding how a PR firm works. The representatives from the firm, explained about how they handle and design strategies for different clients. The Hindu – a newspaper published across 9 states in India.

The students interacted with the Editor, Mr. Pradeep Nair who gave an insight on how deadlines are met, the functioning of the organization and other essential facts and tips were also shared by him to help while writing a news story for a newspaper. The visit ended with a Q&A session. Part of the WPP family, Ogilvy & Mather is a deeply connected, truly global network. They are India’s largest and most awarded integrated communications agency. The students were very delighted to be able to have an interactive session with the various departments of O&M. The presentation session conducted by O&M, gave a good insight on the functioning and the working environment of this prestigious agency. They also highlighted the essential requisites to be a part of this creative agency. An office tour helped us meet people from every department who shared valuable information which also gave an insight on O&M that they undertake to meet client expectations.
No tour is complete without a bit of sightseeing and fun. A city like Bangalore is incomplete without the visit to the HAL museum (Hindustan Aeronautical Limited) which comprises various aircraft models with specific information. At the museum, the screening of a by the museum officials enlightened how HAL was formed, their achievements and also the current status of the aircrafts in India. On the last day, students visited production house , Kanteerava Studio. It had various sets used for shooting which included a court room, hospital, police station etc. The students also witnessed the construction of a set for an upcoming reality show. The golden pumpkin shaped couch gave a reminisce to the famous ‘Cinderella’ chariot.

The assassination of Gauri Lankesh, a fearless and opinionated journalist, was one that not only affected the journalism community, but it also shook the nation. It showed all the citizens of India, that if you take a strong stance against the growing injustices in our country, you will be silenced or at least that was the message was intended to be.

But the journalism community along with the support of fellow citizens made it very clear that they will not to be silenced. They rose up in protest, demanded justice and made it clear that the truth is what we all need to fight for.

Gauri Lankesh stood for what she believed in and didn’t back down ever, not even when she received numerous threats for her work. Journalists like her, who speak out, are only people who can make a change in our society.

This is the reason she should be a big inspiration to, not only journalists, but to every single person in our country.

We live in a country where one of our fundamental rights is ‘freedom of speech’ but yet we see so many people like Gauri, killed for speaking out. How can we say that we truly are a democratic country if our own leaders shut us down?

It is important for the youth to understand that standing up for what you believe in is one of the most important things in life, no matter the consequences. You’re always going to find people who want to silence the truth, try and be the light that shines through. After all,we are the future of this country and if we won’t make a change, who will?

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Goa Arts and Literature Festival (GALF) is an annual festival held at the International Centre Goa (IGG), Dona Paula which brings together acclaimed poets, writers and novelist from across the country and the globe onto one platform.

The students of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication were a part of this festival and undertake tasks such as interviewing, photography, videography which helps the organisers build its media presence through various online portals. This also helps the students learn and develop various on field skills in these respective categories.