The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : `Media not highlighting woes of marginalised people'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 25, 2006
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`Media not highlighting woes of marginalised people'

Special Correspondent

Media charged with being `undemocratic' with regard to woes of have-nots

Teesta Setalvad

HYDERABAD: Social worker and editor of "Communalism Combat" Teesta Setalvad criticised the media for being "less concerned" about the woes of a vast majority of people like artisans and farmers.

Addressing the concluding session of the Telugu daily "Prajashakti's silver jubilee here on Sunday, she charged the media with being `undemocratic' in not addressing the concerns of the marginalised. Citing an instance, she said the recent non-violent boycott of MNCs by tribals in Jharkhand was not covered by the mainstream media.

Advice to media

She said the Srikrishna Commission, which probed the riots after the 1992-93 Mumbai blasts, had recommended prosecution of 31 police officers and 150 civilians but no action was taken. Stressing that none could justify the blasts, she wanted the media to look into the process that led to events as also their fallout.

Mohd. Ali Shabbir, Information and Public Relations Minister, wanted the media to uphold values, which would benefit society and lauded "Prajasakti" for acting as a "bridge" between the Government and the people. Describing how Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had revoked GO 5, he said in a democracy people's wishes dictated policy changes.

B.V.Raghavulu, CPI(M) State secretary, said the move to privatise UNI news agency should be opposed. Referring to the recent attack on a photographer by a police officer, he said it was the Government's responsibility to protect press freedom.

Narayana Datta, Editor of Bengali daily "Ganasakti" said the tasks being enjoined upon any newspaper to protect the country's independence, preserve people's interests and pioneer the cause of democracy were stupendous in this era of US imperialism, accompanied by globalisation.

V.Parameswaran, Editor of Tamil daily "Theekkathir", said that the role of party dailies in making the Left parties a force to reckon with at the Centre cannot be underscored.

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