The newspaper of SRM University For private circulation only Volume 5 Number 7 Annual Day @ Trichy 2 2012 | Spectrum | Volume 5 Number 7 complex issue that generates many Media plays a vital role but has issues important follow-ups. Should all sources be protected? Should journalists abide by a particular code of ethics? And what to do of credibility - Dr. Nirmala Lakshman with social media and the rise of non-professional journalists? I don’t think anyone has clear answers to these questions, A Staff Writer which is why the discussions here the next two days are so A majority of news valuable,” she added. organisations, especially television and radio channels Mr. Ravi Panchamoothoo, are controlled by giant companies Chairman of SRM Group of in the United States and sadly Educational Institutions, argued the trend of consolidation of that the media should give more unregulated media is happening in space for positive news over India too, observed Dr. Srividhya negative content with the accent Raghavan, Professor of Law at not only on sensationalism. the University of Oklahoma, “The media in any democracy Norman, Oklahoma, USA, in is generally seen as the Fourth a theme address at the SRM Pillar or the Fourth Estate University’s Kattankulathur keeping a close watch on the Campus recently. functioning of the system…But Dr. Raghavan, a Fulbright- the role of the media goes beyond Nehru Fellow was participating exposing individual and specific in an international seminar acts of corruption and scams. titled ‘Regulating the Media?’ The media in any democracy organised by the Young Dr. Nirmala Lakshman delivering the inaugural address. should be the guiding light of Journalists Association of the what a society should be,” he Department of Journalism and said the media had to make a idea common to both India and maintained in his prepared Mass Communication, School self-introspection on what it United States and that the media remarks. does in a society as it is one of houses in both democracies of Media Studies and School of “…where is the media in Government and International the main pillars in a democratic took upon their roles quite highlighting the woes of the Affairs in association with the environment, be it in India or seriously at that. common person? The mad race United States-India Educational in other democracies like the “Jokes aside, press regulation, for competition and in looking for Foundation (USIEF) and United States. or conversely, press freedom, all those eye-catching headlines generously supported financially “The media plays a vital role is an idea central to both of has raised the pertinent question by The Hindu newspaper. as a tool of empowerment for the our democracies. The founders of where the media corporate citizen to pursue a better quality The challenge before the media of the United States thought are heading. At the SRM Group of life,” Dr. Lakshman said while was two-fold Dr. Raghavan press freedom was important of Institutions, I would have to delivering the Inaugural Address. maintained — finding out what Dr. Wendy Singer enough that they made it part remind you, we are also a media She regretted that issues like the readers’ expectations were of the Bill of Rights, indeed in conglomerate trying to come paid news and private treaties and how these expectations could line according to her was if the very First Amendment to to grips with this challenging with companies for equity stakes be met. In a hurry to meet such these restrictions have to come the Constitution. Likewise in and daunting task” he added. expectations, the media began had brought down credibility from the outside or something India, press freedom is addressed “Now why do we even talk “pandering to the masses” she to an all-time low. that could be done effectively directly in your Constitution. As about Regulation of the Media?”, remarked going on to say how A journalist in her own right, from within the media houses the world’s oldest and largest posed Dr. R. Balasubramanian, appalling it is to find highly a literary critic and a highly and media industry itself. democracies, it is instructive Director of the Faculty of Science objectionable news reports and accomplished scholar Dr. that both countries place such “It is perhaps worth bearing and Humanities, in his Welcome photos even in sports section Lakshman argued that while prominence and protections mind that as a mature democracy, address. “ Those who go strictly of a newspaper. Dr. Raghavan the media does indeed play on freedom of the press. Our statutory regulation by the by Freedom of Speech and further added that politicians a vital role in shaping public founders took this idea seriously government will completely Expression are appalled that and their political parties have opinion and keeping a watchful and so should we,” Ms McIntyre undermine true democratic democracies even talk about started television channels and eye on a diverse society like functioning in the country and observed. regulation. And yet there is in such media houses, objective India, the question does indeed the press will be fettered and “But we can’t simply respond also the perception that in this reporting would be a casualty. arise if there would have to be unable to discharge its duties as to the question of freedom of mad race in the so-called name certain regulations imposed on Dr. Nirmala Lakshman, protector of civil liberties and the press with yes or no. It’s a of competition sections of the Director, Kasturi and Sons, the media houses. But the bottom rights. An outside regulatory body comprised largely of media practioners themselves and perhaps eminent citizens and justices functioning on a rotational basis and armed with more teeth than the present Press Council to check serious lapses and ensure accountability may be what is needed”, Dr. Lakshman maintained. In her Special Address, Ms Jennnifer McIntyre, Consul General for the U.S. in Chennai, The Consul General of the United States of America in Chennai Dr. Srividya Raghavan with the theme address. stressed press freedom was an interacting with Jounalism Students. 2012 | Spectrum | Volume 5 Number 7 3 of Regulation” he added. The Valedictory programme on Day Two saw the Senior The Vice Chancellor of SRM Deputy Editor of The Hindu, University, Dr. M.Ponnavaikko Dr.Arvind Sivaramakrishnan, also offered his felicitations the Vice Chancellor of Tamil stressing the vital role played Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law by the media in an era of University, Dr. V. Vijaykumar as globalization and information featured speakers with the Vice technology. Chancellor of SRM University Dr. Sridhar Krishnaswami, Dr. M.Ponnavaikko delivering Head of the School of Media the Presidential Address. The Vice Chancellor of SRM University presenting a memento Studies, highlighted the theme American Fulbright-Nehru to Dr. V.Vijayakumar, Vice Chancellor, The Tamil Nadu of the international seminar and Dr. Arvind Sivaramakrishnan Scholars who participated in the Dr. Ambedkar Law University introduced the main participants international seminar and had media may have crossed that and the Dean of the Faculty interactive sessions in panel Dr. Srividya Raghavan of the Green State University of fine line on what can be printed of Sciences, Dr. K.Sengotti meetings were Dr. David Stairs University of Oklahoma, Dr. Ohio and Dr. Wendy Singer of or broadcasted and hence the proposed the vote of thanks. of Central Michigan University, Kristen Rudisill of Bowling Kenyon College, also in Ohio. urgent need to bring order to a system that is seen to have gone haywire. This naturally brings based on what is good for about the central theme of this Panel Discussion: Do Democratic society as a whole. international seminar—does the Dr. M. Ponnavaiko, regulation have to come from Societies Need to Police The Media? Vice chancellor of SRM within or without?” he said. University delivered the A Staff Writer “I believe there are two Presidential Address at the things that the media now valediction, stressing on faces. The first is within the “Regulation should be seen for the betterment of society self-regulation for media industry for the clamour to be and not for one’s convenience,” to avoid losing our human the first and hence the pressure was the underlying message nature. Dr. V. Vijayakumar, to produce. Journalists are in the panel discussion held in Vice Chancellor of The Tamil under tremendous pressure Mini Hall I organized by the Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law to come up with something Young Journalists Association that is different from what University delivered the and the School of Media the competition has put out” special address. “…today Studies, Faculty of Science remarked the registrar of SRM media and democracy is and Humanities. The guest University, Dr. N.Sethuraman, At a panel discussion - Dr. Kristen Rudisill, intertwined so much that it’s speakers included Dr. David said in his prepared remarks Dr. David Stairs and Ms. Kausalya Santhanam hard to separate them.” He Stairs, Professor of Arts and while offering felicitations. spoke about her experience there should be more media remarked adding that the same Design at central Michigan as a journalist at The Hindu. coverage and reporting. Ms. constitution which allowed “And the second is from University, Dr. Wendy Singer, She elaborated on the right Archana, who gave the paper freedom of press also tells the outside the industry—from historian at Kenyon College, for freedom of speech that all presentation, spoke about how various situations where it the different branches of the Ms. Sujatha Ramachandran, citizens have, and the duty for the Indian constitution has can be restricted. Dr. Arvind political system that is quite Special Correspondent of all journalists to report pure the duty to protect people’s Srivarmakrishnan, Deputy upset and irritated at what is The Hindu, and Ms.