In journalism, there Most truths are so has always been a naked that people tension between feel sorry for them getting it first and and cover them up, getting it right. at least a bit. - Ellen Goodman - Edward Murrow (US journalist) (US journalist) Kottayam,������������������������������� Thursday, May 26, 2011 Convocation������������� Issue � � � � � � � � � � � � �������������������������������������For private circulation only Roll of Honour MASCOM graduates 20 in ninth batch Best Reporting By Karthika Valiathan speech, Mr Kumar said, "I Manish Kumar KOTTAYAM: Twenty consider myself extremely students - seven men and lucky to have been taught (English) 13 women - were awarded by Prof K Thomas Oommen. Mariya Tresa Abraham postgraduate diplomas at Pushing limits and stretching (Malayalam) the ninth Convocation of goals become a routine affair MASCOM (Manorama at MASCOM." School of Communication) Shruti Karthikeyan from Courtesy: B Ashok Best Editing held here today. the English stream and Nidhi B Ashok, IAS, vice chancel- Elsa Francis from Malayalam Introducing Chris Jonathan Peters lor of Kerala Veterinary and won the Malayala Manorama Chief Guest (English) Animal Sciences University, Awards for Best Investigation Jaison Thomas delivered the Convocation Project. These projects were The chief guest today (Malayalam) address and presented awards rated by Manoj K Das, the is B Ashok, IAS, who is and diplomas to the students. resident editor of Deccan currently vice chancellor Dr Ashok told the students Chronicle (Kerala). of Kerala Veterinary and Best Investigation Project that mediapersons need to The Malayala Manorama Animal Sciences University appreciate public interest in Award for the Best at Pookode in Wayanad. mass communication. Photo: Amelie Benoist Dissertation was given to Dr Ashok won the Canadian Shruti Karthikeyan He urged them to respect READY, SET, GO: Students of MASCOM's ninth batch are (first row from left) Ansu Baby, Mariya Saradha Mohan Kumar from International Development (English) private and public boundaries Tresa Abraham, Karthika Valiathan, Suganya Haridass, Vishakha Sonawane, Jilson Jose; (second row from the English stream and Jaison Research Centre's Indian of personal behaviour-related left) Nidhi Elsa Francis, Divya P, Princy Alexander, Anusha Narain, Shilpy Bisht, Rakendu Leo, Saradha Thomas from the Malayalam Social Science Research Nidhi Elsa Francis Mohan Kumar, Sanjith Sidhardhan, Sreekanth Ravindran, Jaison Thomas, Chris Jonathan Peters, Manish communication. Kumar, Chinnu Rajan, Shruti Karthikeyan, Vinu Mathew Seemon. Absent: Christy Raju. stream. The dissertation Paper Award for his 2009 (Malayalam) The ninth batch included were reviewed by Mohan study on "Social Exclusion in for much of the academic Agence France-Presse last expand our programme to Mammen Mappillai Award Varughese, lecturer at Mar Madurai." Best Dissertation year, Nadia Fazlulhaq, week in New Delhi. offer training to foreign stu- for the Best Student of the Thoma College in Thiruvalla. He has fellowships from nominee of the Lakshman Commenting on the oppor- dents. Both Nadia and Amelie Class of 2011 was won by The Malayala Manorama the Italian Cultural Institute Kadirgamar Foundation in tunities provided to the stu- worked hard and they set an Manish Kumar, who scored Chief Editor’s Award for and University of Maastricht Saradha Mohan Kumar Colombo, for specialised dents, MASCOM Director K example for MASCOM’s an aggregate of 535 marks Best Reporting was given in the Netherlands. (English) training at MASCOM. Thomas Oommen said, “We Indian students.” out of 700. to Manish Kumar from the Dr Ashok, who joined the Jaison Thomas She is the second hope to continue and even The prestigious KC Delivering the valedictory English stream and Mariya IAS in 1998, was the chief of (Malayalam) Foundation nominee to under- Tresa Abraham from the staff of the Union Minister for go training at MASCOM, Malayalam stream. The Agriculture and Food, deputy under a bilateral scheme to MASCOM Trustees Award director in the Lal Bahadur Background Lectures commemorate the assas- for Best Editing was made Shastri National Academy of sinated Sri Lankan Foreign to Chris Jonathan Peters Administration in Mussoorie, Sanjith Sidhardhan Minister. Nadia returned to (English) and Jaison Thomas executive director of Jalanidhi (English) Sri Lanka in February and (Malayalam). and district collector of rejoined the Sunday Times in The award for the highest Pathanamthitta. Colombo. marks in Background Lectures He is a veterinary sci- BEST STUDENT Similarly, Amelie Benoist, - given by MASCOM’s spe- ence graduate of Kerala Manish Kumar a photojournalist from France cialist adjunct faculty - was Agricultural University, also underwent training here. made to Sanjith Sidhardhan. Thrissur. She is not present at this Convocation as she joined Courtesy: Manorama MEMORABLE MOMENT: Then Kerala Chief Minister AK Antony unveils a plaque to inaugu- Jacob Mathew tracks rate Manorama School Of Communication (MASCOM) in 2002. (From right) MASCOM trustee Jayant Manorama chief editor insists Mammen Mathew, former chief editor KM Mathew, Union Minister for Human Resource Development good writing has 'no substitute' Kapil Sibal, AK Antony and MASCOM director K Thomas Oommen. role of Indian media MASCOM - a cherished memory By Vishakha Sonawane of WAN-IFRA, Mr Mathew By Sanjith Sidhardhan said: "It focuses on strength- "The print media should By Anusha Narain up the MASCOM programme. “I was never KOTTAYAM: Indian media ening the media and helping KOTTAYAM: “The denied any help I needed and had it not been executives are beginning traditional newspapers." print media should never never run scared." KOTTAYAM: When KM Mathew became for him, I wouldn’t have stayed as long as I to make their mark interna- In India, the newspaper run scared” is Malayala the Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama in have (nine years).” tionally and Jacob Mathew, growth is about 18 per cent, Manorama chief editor - Malayala Manorama 1973 its circulation was only 24,000, far As a person he was friendly, easy-going executive editor of Malayala which means the Indian print Mammen Mathew’s advice Chief Editor behind the other four publications here, and understanding, an avid traveller in his Manorama, is media will survive to fellow journalists in the namely Deepika, Mangalam, Mathrubhumi younger days, a bon vivant and a lover of one of them. Last though there is a media industry. Mammen Mathew and Kerala Kaumudi. the good life, but always a hard worker, Mr month he was decline of reader- The 67-year-old head of But under his stewardship it became India’s Oommen added. elected the first ship in the West, India’s highest circulated Photo: Amelie Benoist highest circulated regional language newspa- Jacob Mathew, executive editor of Malayala Indian to the post Mr Mathew said. regional language newspaper absolutely no danger to the ment channel was expensive per, which today has a readership of 19.03 Manorama, clarified his father's rationale for of president of He asserted the also stressed the importance print media in India for the but logically necessary.” lakhs. the low tuition fee. “He believed that if the World Association decline is due to of good writing, saying “It next 50 years, because the Mr Mathew became the Mr Mathew launched a number of ini- student is willing and able, he should be able of Newapapers and the availability for has no substitute.” literacy rate and readership group’s fifth chief editor, tiatives, one of them being MASCOM to reach out to MASCOM and MASCOM News Publishers the past 15 years The strengths of Malayala are increasing.” succeeding his father, KM (Manorama School Of Communication), should reach out to him or her.” (WAN-IFRA), an of news on the Manorama, which has a read- Also he added, because of Mathew, who died on Aug which was inaugurated in 2002 by then Chief For Jayant Mathew, his grandfather’s organisation based Internet. ership of nearly 1 crore, are poverty in the country, news- 1, 2010. He has held various Minister AK Antony. outstanding quality was compassion. The in Europe. The newly “the best writing and report- papers are the main source of positions in the group since Jayant Mammen Mathew, management grandson said, “He was a patient listener who Mr Mathew, elected WAN- ing” of all Malayalam news- information for people who 1968 including special cor- trustee at MASCOM, said his grandfather not would never force his advice on anyone. He only the second Photo: Vishakha Sonawane IFRA president is papers, he maintained. cannot afford cellphones, respondent in New Delhi only raised the Manorama to its premier status always weighed the effect that his decisions Asian to be so elected, of the opinion that the print Mr Mathew described television or access to the and resident editor of its in Indian journalism, he also wanted to raise would have on the people involved. had already served on the media in India is "buoyant Malayalees as a news hungry Internet. Kozhikode unit, before mov- the quality of journalists entering the profes- "His work ethic was exemplary. He even Executive Council of WAN- and it will stay so in the fors- people, and so his daily pro- Nevertheless, Mr Mathew ing to the headquarters here in sion and so he set up MASCOM. came to work the day before he died. What IFRA for four years. “With eeable future, provided they vides “extensive coverage of warned, the print industry 1980 as managing editor and The tuition fee was fixed at a much lower more can I say?” the committed team of WAN- give good content. local issues and a fairly good “should not close its eyes” general manager. figure than those at other comparable- jour Jacob Mathew recalled another of his IFRA, we should be able to “The literacy rate in India coverage of international and to the growth of other media In 1988, the centenary nalism schools because he wanted to make father’s qualities. "He always said, 'I am an handle the different challeng- is 65 per cent and newspaper national news as well,” he sectors. year of the company, he MASCOM's training course affordable to ordinary person who knows how to apply his ing situations that the print reach is only 40 per cent remarked. On the Malayala Manorama was appointed editor and worthy students, irrespective of their financial mind in the right direction.' Every day was an medium is facing in different because of which the news- While conceding the other group’s latest electronic managing director of the status, the grandson added. experience with him and that I would describe parts of the world,” he said. paper industry has potential mass media are growing, media venture, he explained, Malayala Manorama Group MASCOM director Thomas Oommen said in one word as wonderful." Explaining the objectives for growth.” Mr Mathew asserted, “I see “The foray into an entertain- of Publications. Mr Mathew was an excellent guide in setting KM Mathew died at 93 on Aug 1, 2010.

This dissertation by Saradha Jayant Mathew lauds MASCOM This investigative report by Shruti Mohan Kumar, titled "Survival of Karthikeyan, titled "Inland the Fittest," was adjudged the best for creating 'quality journalists' Waterways," was adjudged the by Lecturer Mohan Varughese of By Manish Kumar set at its inception in 2002 by late KM best by Manoj K Das, resident edi- Mathew, former chief editor of Malayala Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla. KOTTAYAM: Malayala Manorama dep- Manorama. tor of Deccan Chronicle (Kerala). uty editor Jayant Mammen Mathew says “MASCOM has always been a not- MASCOM is producing “quality journal- for-profit journalism institute even though ists” who are making it functions at a Photo: Amelie Benoist Photo: Amelie Benoist significant contribu- deficit,” he said. tions to the country’s A d v i s i n g Science finds little space print media. aspiring student Development of waterways Mr Mathew, 40, journalists, Mr rated MASCOM as Mathew said for in Indian newspaper columns “one of the best” them to succeed is trapped in poor planning In an era of scams, revelations and elec- Knowledge in science is essential, journalism schools in in a fiercely com- A Rs 60 crore project to develop water- With an inland container terminal set tions, little will the reporters and editors when it comes to decision-making in the country. “There petitive sector, ways in Kerala is trapped in planning to come up at Kottayam with tourist be interested in science coverage and so issues involving information inputs are not many such they must develop discrepancies, ecological aspects of inflow increasing and Kuttanad’s con- will the attitude of readers be towards such as health. institutes in India,” a “sceptical, coastal regulations and financial prob- nection with the outer world depend- such stories in newspapers. Also, it is crucial for leaders to have he said. but not cynical” lems caused by escalation in project ing heavily on these waterways, the But instances of few English dailies at least a basic knowledge of science “MASCOM scores attitude in their costs. project envisaged removal of water in India will show that it is not the era when resolving scientific issues as the over other media search for news Three feeder canals in Kerala were hyacinths and other obstructions, but the nature of the subject that compli- decisions could affect people at the schools because of stories. selected for improvement based on the strengthening of the canal shores with cates reporting and publishing. local, national and international levels. the attention given to Mr Mathew preliminary reports prepared by the concrete sheets and stonewalls; deepen- In 1818, a monthly publication In this context, newspapers can play practical exposure and stressed the need Irrigation Department of Kerala. ing of the canals; 116 new wharfs and Digdarshan started carrying science a more effective role than science text- real newsroom situa- for convergence The state government identified six new bridges (Illickal, Kanjiram, stories in Hindi, Bengali and English, books in educating people, as they are tions,” he added. between the print Kottayam-Alappuzha canal (23 kilome- Thiruvatta, Kidangara, Arpookara marking the beginning of science not only cost-effective but also easy to Mr Mathew said Photo: Amelie Benoist and the television tres), Alappuzha-Changanacherry canal and Pulikuttysseri) and 10 walkover journalism in India. Now, there are few understand. If science reporters write that a broadcast media. (27 kilometres) and Kottayam-Vaikom bridges. papers that carry science stories and two articles that would be understood even journalism course Malayala Manorama dep- “News on canal of 38 kilometres, with the assis- The engineering company started the national dailies - The Hindu and The by a 14-year-old, scientific knowledge would be offered by the television is tance of World Bank-funded scheme. work on Sept 10, 2003, and the contract Telegraph - that have pages dedicated can be transmitted to everyone. MASCOM shortly so uty editor Jayant Mammen instant, but lacks Bhageeratha Engineering Limited was given for two years. But, an inves- to science and technology. In spite of the importance of sci- as to meet the require- detailed analy- based in Kochi was handed over the tigation done by this reporter found out In fact, most newspapers have ence journalism being acknowledged ments of the country’s Mathew rates MASCOM as sis. This has to Rs 60-crore contract on Aug 12, 2003, that there were serious discrepancies in stopped their supplements or weekly by journalists as well as scientists, it rapidly expanding be provided by by the Inland Water Transport Division the implementation of this project. pages on science topics and most news is yet to come out of its present stage television medium. "one of the best" journal- newspapers,”he (IWTD) under the Water Resources The project was important as the IWT organisations have reassigned their sci- of infancy. But he assured that the noted. Department. system, like any other form of transpor- ence reporters. A study by The Hoot, a Several reasons stand as a barrier expansion would not ism schools in India. Asked about The feeder canals project received tation, caters to the movement of both media monitor, indicates that science for newspapers to provide high-quality be at the expense of the prospects for 80 per cent assistance from the World passengers and cargo. coverage in the print media is about 6.8 science coverage. It ranges from reluc- the present postgradu- newspapers 20 Bank and 20 per cent from the state In a surprising case of graft as discov- per cent. tance of editors in publishing more sci- ate print journalism course, as “the growth years down the line, Mr Mathew was opti- government. ered in a Right To Information response, Science and technology affect the ence stories due to readership concerns, story for print has just begun now.” mistic about their growth. It had undertaken the contract for out of the Rs 60 crore allocated for the day-to-day life in several aspects. Be it to the communication gap between Mr Mathew stressed that at a time when Mr Mathew said that the proposed televi- upgradation of feeder canals, dredging, project only Rs 16 crore has been an environmental issue, a disease or the scientists and reporters. other media schools are levying lakhs of sion course will have the same core content construction of boat jetties, two termi- utilised. release of a new gadget, science has a rupees in fees, MASCOM has maintained - reporting and editing - as the print course nals at Kottayam and Changanacherry direct impact on the lives of people. (Continued on page 2) its fees until now at Rs 75,000, the fee and only the tools would be different. and setting up navigational equipment. (Continued on page 2)