Newskarnataka – Udupi

Udupi: The resident editor of NDTV at Bangalore, Maya Sharma felt that television reporters need to have sensitivity while covering receptive emotional issues and they should not tend to sensationalize the scenario.

After inaugurating the Article-19 during the communication festival of the Manipal School of Communication she said that sensationalizing news may give better audience but the result is short-term. “Sensitivity is not a hindrance, but a strength which can strengthen credibility in the long run,” she added.

Sharma also narrated the challenges being faced by the TV journalist today and how students need to overcome with grit and determination. Drawing from her 25-years of experience in the field, she argued how sensitivity can add to the quality of the news story, especially tragic events.

She said that now-a-days there is less of field reporting on television and there is more of panel discussion. “This is not a good trend. This may be temporary phenomenon and it may change in the days to come,” she hoped.

Touching upon how women journalists were badly treated earlier, she also pointed out that now journalism, especially; television journalism has significant presence of female journalists. While women journalists have broken the stereotypes today, they still face problems of safety and discrimination. She raised a whole range of challenges in the field including language, technology, competition, objectivity etc.

Earlier, School of Communication Director Varadesh Hiregange stressed the need to discuss what freedom means to hungry millions, toiling masses, dalits, women and adivasis.

He said, “We should also discuss what freedom means to Salman Rushdies and Taslima Nasreens, three hundred Ramayanas and Wendy Donigers; also to those media professionals challenging establishment and women journalists breaking the stereotypes.

Documentary film maker Sanjay Kak, Director M V Kamath along with faculty coordinator Raviraj and a large number of students were present.