MEDIA CITY-Media Hub in India

The government is looking at setting up a media city on the public-private partnership model. The proposal was mooted at a meeting called by the information & broadcasting minister which was attended by representatives from the print and broadcasting media industries including members of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), the Association of Indian Magazines as well as the Indian Broadcasting Foundation. The general consensus was in favour of a separate media city on the lines of facilities that have been set up in cities such as Dubai, Manila and Colombo. The government proposed that over 200 acres should be identified and developed as a media city housing the print, broadcasting, publishing and the internet media industries. It has also asked the media bodies to come up with a list of problems facing them and how a full-fledged media city could solve them. “Though the proposed city is still at the concept stage, the idea is to have a common place where broadcasters can find uplinking facilities while newspapers can avail of printing facilities. For instance, today my printing facilities are spread across Okhla, Gurgaon and Noida,” said Maheshwar Peri, publisher, Outlook Group. Some print media executives also complained that while the old newspaper companies have facilities at prime locations, the relatively new players found it difficult to get a place to set up their operations. While the government may have taken the initiative this time, proposal for a media city was first made by the print media industry some six years ago.

The KC KULISH AWARD

Year 1956, nine years after Independence of India, one journalist dared to dream of a newspaper free from influences and interests, totally credible, wedded to truth and public good and devoid of commercial concerns and set about making it a reality. Karpoor Chandra Kulish’s dream and ideals drove him to launch Rajasthan Patrika with a borrowed capital of Rs 500 (about 100 US dollars then). Today Rajasthan Patrika is the most authentic voice of India’s largest state, besides being the only Hindi daily with readership in most parts of India including such non-Hindi speaking states as West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is one of the largest circulated Hindi newspapers of the Indian sub-continent, and is among the top 50 newspapers of the world with over 13 million readers in India. The phenomenal growth from virtual scratch was possible only due to Karpoor Chandra Kulish’s grit and determination and his faith in the people of Rajasthan, who responded generously to his brand of journalism based on truth, courage and independence. Karpoor Chandra Kulish never swerved from the path of fairness and honesty. Professional excellence went hand in hand with coverage of news and expression of views always focused on public interest and welfare. He set high standards and healthy traditions for his successors to imbibe and follow.
Even today, the ideals and traditions of Karpoor Chandra Kulish remain the driving force for Rajasthan Patrika. In a recent BBC-Reuters survey, Rajasthan Patrika was listed among the top five “most trusted” publications of the country. The interests and problems of citizens as readers remain the newspaper’s prime focus and concern.
The Rajasthan Patrika Group is glad to announce the Karpoor Chandra Kulish Award 2007 (KCK Award 2007). This annual award, in the hallowed memory of Karpoor Chand Kulish, is aimed at recognizing efforts of thought leaders in media, journalist’s outstanding contributions to upholding professional values as well as protecting and promoting ethics and morality, right and freedom of the people for better quality of life. The award theme for year 2007 shall be “Human Development”.
There is no entry fee for the award.
“Human Development”:The first KCK Award for excellence in print journalism will be open to those who have authored and published the most compelling write-ups in media contributing to changing the lives and meeting the aspirations of people. We seek to honor journalists who covered events of people’s struggle for a life of dignity, fulfillment and honor.
We expect the contributions to represent manifestation of man’s unique spirit and goodness of life. They shall also depict strong focus on showcasing self-governance leading to effective social change.

FICCI Forum 2008

FICCI, has been playing a pioneering role in projecting the promise and the potential of the Inidan entertainment industry from getting the film industry to be recognised as an industry to corporatisation and access to clean, institutional funding. FICCI, very closely worked with the Ministry for Information & Broadcasting and was instrumental for getting the offical recognition of the entertainment sector, including films as an Industry.
The first ever report on the Indian entertainment industry authored by FICCI was released in 2001.
FICCI-FRAMES: Asia's Biggest Convention on the Business of Entertainment (2500 delegates from over 22 Countries)
FICCI instituted the first ever Animation Awards in India in 2004, FICCI BAF (Best Animated FRAMES) Awards, to recognize the excellence in Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects.
Works closely with both, Central and State Governments on Key Policy isues.
Showcases the promise and potential of India media & Entertainment Sector at various international forums.
International Linkages : CASBAA, WIPO, PROMAX, MIPTV, MIPCOM, ANNECY Animation festival, MPAA, VES, FICCI-IIFA Forum, LIMA, ATF etc.

KC KULISH AWARD- New in Journalism Excellence

Dawn & HT jointly win KCK Award 2007
The results of the inaugural Karpoor Chandra Kulish International Award-2007 for excellence in print journalism are in and the jury has declared DAWN (Pakistan) and HINDUSTAN TIMES (Delhi) as joint winners.
This annual international award, instituted by Rajasthan Patrika, a media institution of repute, in the hallowed memory of Karpoor Chand Kulish, is aimed at recognizing credible and value based journalism. To begin with, recognizing and encouraging inhouse journalistic talents has been a way of life in Rajasthan Patrika. Rajasthan Patrika had established an internal mechanism several years ago by which journalists within the organization are encouraged and adequately awarded. Now, it is the endeavour of Patrika to do it globally by instituting the KCKIA Award. In addition, the prestigious Concerned Communicator Award was instituted by Rajasthan Patrika over a decade ago. It is the most coveted and highly recognized social advertising award of the country. We invite ad professionals to make print advertisements on any social issue that they feel strongly for. This year the CCA has entered into its 10th Year and it continues to represent the true spirit of creative excellence.
The theme for KCKIA award for year 2007 was "Human Development" and stories should have been published on or after 1st January 2007 through 31st December 2007. The jury received 187 entries in total across the globe viz., from countries like the USA, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Australia, Pakistan, etc. The Sixty-one Indian newspapers pitched for 145 entries and ten members of international media submitted 42 entries. The story of Assistant Editor Afsan Subhai & his team “Why does corporate Pakistan detest democracy”, published in Karachi edition of the Dawn, and the story published by Senior Editor Nilesh Mishra & his team “The new Muslim series – From Masjid to market a journey” published in Delhi edition of Hindustan Times were declared joint winners.
The jury submitted that the entries were ample proof of quality journalism. They appreciated the efforts of Rajasthan Patrika and commented that probably it was the first time when not only the reporert but the whole team also was getting its due. It would enhance the team sprit and efficiency. The jury was comprised of luminaries, like Mr. N. Ram, Editor in Chief of The Hindu; Mr. H.K. Dua Editor in Chief of The Tribune; Prof. Bakul H. Dholakia, former Director of IIM, Ahmedabad; Mr. Peeyush Pandey (the ad guru), Executive Chairman & National Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather Ltd.; and Mr.Gulab Kothari, Editor & Managing Director of Rajasthan Patrika.
The Award distribution function will be held in Delhi on the 12th of March. The Chief Guest will be the former President of India Dr. A.P.J.Abul Kalam, and the function will be presided over by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. The award carries a prize money of US $ 11000 and a trophy. A few special-mention awards will also be presented.
And the following stories have been selected for merit award -
i) Times of India, Ahmedabad – “Save the girl child” by Radha Sharma & her team.ii) The Mercury, South Africa – “South Africa’s poisonous work places” by Tony Carnie & his team.iii) Hindustan Times Delhi – “India besiges series – one in every six Indians lives under insurgency” by Yashwant Raj & his team.iv) Dainik Janambhumi, Guwahati – “HIV/Aids awareness campaign” by Lakhyajit Gohain & his team.v) Amar Ujala, Kanpur – “Badhal Bundelkhand” by Pratap Samvanshi & his team.vi) Hindustan Times, Chandigarh – “War torn – a series on the plight of war martyr families” by Kuldeep Maan & his team.vii) The Statesman, Kolkata – “ The ugly truth in Nandigram” by Sukumar Mitra & his team.viii) Uttar Ujala, Dehradun – “Slow pace of development in Uttrakhand – resulting hardship of people” by Jay Singh Rawat & his team. ix) Rashtra Deepika Daily, Kerala – “Weeping faces, frozen mind” by Reji Joseph & his team.x) Saurashtra Aaspass, Bhavnagar – “Jiske jeevan me andhera hai…” by Hitesh Raviya

ADIEU to MJ Akbar from The Asian Age

Veteran Indian journalist and author M J Akbar, who is widely regarded for his brilliant inscription of words, columns and books, has been ‘forced out’ of the Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle newspapers. Akbar and Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd, which had a majority stake in Asian Age Holdings parted ways this month.
Akbar, who worked in both the newspapers as its editor-in-chief.
Akbar says there had been disagreement over editorial matters with Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd. “I wanted an independent line, whereas the Deccan Chronicle management was insistent that I be supportive of the pro-establishment, government policies. “I haven’t quit; I have been forced out,”. According to reports, he is holding 10 per cent in the Asian Age Holdings Ltd., while the rest 90 per cent is being held by the Deccan Chronicle; a fact that he outrightly denies.
The buzz is that ever since Deccan Chronicle increased its holding to 90 per cent from a meek 23 per cent in May 2005, there were disagreements between the two. However, the media insiders say this could just be a hogwash. It is said Akbar’s dismissal has a lot to do with the Congress party. Akbar is reportedly eyeing Rajya Sabha membership and opposition BJP wants Akbar nominated for one of the seats. It is speculated that none other than Congress President Sonia Gandhi wanted Akbar out of The Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle. And Akbar’s conflict with ‘pro-establishment’ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd could have acted detrimental here. Akbar had a brief stint as a member of parliament from Bihar’s Kishanganj constituency on the Congress party ticket in 1989. He founded the Asian Age in 1993, and published it initially from New Delhi, Bombay, Kolkata and London. He has previously edited publications such as Sunday and The Telegraph from Kolkata.
Discussing whether returning to politics was on his mind, Akbar said: “I am independent, and will remain independent. I, as a journalist, have many friends in the politics. Why should I not have political acquaintances and contacts?” he asked. “I am not going to be defeated so easily,” he added.
Cutting across ideological lines, many political parties including the Left have shown sympathy and support for Akbar.

EVM conceptualiser is no more- Sujatha is dead

EVM conceptualiser is no more- Sujatha is dead

EVM conceptuliser is no more- Sujatha is dead

The key person behind the development of the Electronic Voting Machine and an eminent writer, S Rangarajan alias Sujatha, has died.
A multi-faceted personality,73-year-old Rangarajan, is survived by wife and two sons. Sujatha, who had been suffering from diabetes and had undergone a bypass heart surgery, died of multiple organ failure on Wednesday night, doctors at the Apollo Hospital said.
An electronics engineer from IIT-Madras, Sujatha was general manager (Research and Development) in Bharat Electronics [Get Quote] Limited (BEL) and was instrumental in designing the EVMs extensively used for polls in the country.
He had taken great pains to prove the efficacy of the EVMs a few years ago, when suspicions had been raised about the functioning of the machines. Sujatha was a pioneer in the field of science fictions in Tamil. He also wrote short stories, novels, screenplays and columns in weeklies.
In his fictions, the writer imagined a Chennai post-2020, where air-taxis and gigolos would be a common affair. He also ventured into areas of child sex abuse, a concept not much discussed by the Tamil society.
With about 100 novels and 200 short stories under his kitty, he served as editor of popular weekly Kumudam.
His columns in Ananda Vikatan, which discussed a range of issues, enjoyed wide readership.
Sujatha wrote screenplay and dialogues for Rajnikanth-starrer film Sivaji --The Boss and under-production film Dasavataram featuring Kamal Haasan.