Media and democracy: The Asian Expe

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Media and Democracy: The Asian Experience
The 2nd Day Press Release: September 19, 2000 Pune

The second day of the workshop on Media and Democracy: The Asian Experience, 
organized jointly by Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication (SIMC) and 
the Mizzima News Group got underway today at the Assembly Hall of the 
Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology (SCIT) at Atur Centre, Pune.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Rajashree Dasgupta, an active womens? rights 
activist dwelt at length on Women and Media: Experience of the 80s. She felt 
that media responds to social change but ?media? also projects partial 
reality?. According to her media, has never led a womens? movement. She 
strongly felt that in this day and age of commercialization of media ?if the 
reader can be made to think then that is good journalism?.

There was also a country presentation by Yindee Lertcheeroenchok of Thailand 
is considered to be an expert in ASEAN affairs and Thai foreign policy. She 
cautioned journalists against falling into the trap of becoming loyal to any 
political party ?because that could lead to a complete polarization of 
public opinion?.

Prof. U. K. Chowdhury, Director, SIMC expressed doubts about Ms. Rajeshri 
Dasgupta?s contention that women are getting into professional positions in 
large numbers. He felt that women are actually being coopted into the system 
rather than being accepted perse. On the information technology of the 21s 
Century, the Professor opined that convergence was the new mantra and that 
all media including new media would coexist. ?However presentation styles 
have changed and are being customized to the requirements of different 
media?. He also felt that it?s an essential prerequisite of the new age that 
media personnel have to be techno savvy. In the ultimate analysis it?s the 
man behind the machine and its more the contents than the technology that 
matter.

Ms. Madhu Kishwar editor of the women?s magazine, Manushi accused the media 
of bracketing journalists like her in the ?feminist category? and declared 
that although she espouses genuine feministic issues, she is not a feminist 
perse. She was speaking on the topic of Voluntary Slavery: Media dependent 
on govt. patronage.

There was also a documentary film show by Australian filmmaker Tim Bryson 
who spoke on Reconciliation for Aboriginal Australia.

The afternoon session was marked by an interactive discussion between the 
students and the participants on the controversial theme of whether media 
should take sides or not.

On the whole, the workshop was well attended by journalists and activists 
from Burma, Thailand among other Asian countries. Delegates from Australia 
and Canada were also present on the occasion. Tomorrow would be the third 
and final day of the workshop at the same venue.

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