INAUGURATING THE 2nd Citizen Journalists’ (CJ) Meet at Mumbai, Vipul Kant Upadhyay,Founder, merinews.com said that the empowerment and engagement of citizens would lead to a true and effective democracy. He dwelled on ‘India: Next 60 years – Citizens’ Manifesto.’ He said that within 16 months time, merinews, a relatively new participatory journalism portal has emerged as a major force. He reiterated that merinews was not in competition or rivalry with the existing media houses, but a part of the media. “This is a new emerging form of media,” and without pointing any particular organisation, he added that many among the print and broadcast media have incorporated participatory and grassroot journalism.
Chairman, merinews, Vaibhav Kant Upadhyay presented his vision that in participatory journalism, citizens should report if the MPs are not working and also offer alternatives to the people. This will also put pressure on the MPs to work.
Replying on this suggestion, the founder, merinews said that they were already working on a similar plan and will do something in this direction soon.
Shefali Sagar, the Editorial Director of Merinews, gave an illuminating interactive power point session on the Merinews initiative, ‘India: Next 60 years – Citizens’ Manifesto.’
The second session included power discussions by eminent panel on the topic, ‘Can Citizen Journalism be an Effective Tool for Effective Democracy?’ The other prominent panelists, who air their views were Anurag Batra (Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director, Exchange4media), Dr Taher Y Kagalwala (Citizen Journalist), Sanjay Nirupam (Former MP and spokesperson MPCC), Dr Ajeenkya Patil (Chairman, Central Board of Workers' Education, GoI), Sudhir Chaudhary (CEO & Editor, Live India Television), Umesh Upadhyay (Senior Journalist), Abhigyan Prakash (NDTV), Dinkar Raikar (Senior Editor, Lokmat) and Sujata Anandan (Political Editor, Hindustan Times).
Sudhir Chaudhary, CEO & editor, Live India Television asked if we can call a citizen, a citizen doctor or a citizen engineer. If not, how can we call someone a citizen journalist. He suggested that they could be called citizen campaigners as it is not enough to have a passion and journalism is not a profession for them.
Sanjay Nirupam, Former MP and spokesperson MPCC said that politicians are hated, but asked why? Nirupam added that politics was a profession. In reply to a question on why young people where not given chance in politics, he said that it was not so, only one needs to believe in oneself and cautioned that buck should not be passed.
Senior Journalist Umesh Upadhyay said that news can only be worked on in a newsroom.
Anurag Batra, editor-in-chief and managing director, Exchange4media said that a direction needed to be given to Citizen journalists.
Sujata Anandan, Political Editor, Hindustan Times (HT) said that CJ is a source of news and HT has dedicated a full page daily for CJs.
Dr Taher Y Kagalwala, eminent Citizen Journalist talked about the feeble healthcare system and stressed that at least the basic system for health and education should be improved.
Dr Ajeenkya Patil, chairman, Central Board of Workers' Education, government of India asserted that the time for citizen journalism has come and it can’t be stopped now.
Dinkar Raikar, senior editor, Lokmat talked about the emergence of print media and citizen journalism.
Abhigyan Prakash, anchor NDTV India said that journalists were also most hated now like the politicians and every channel has their own model of news. It is up to the people to choose what they want.
During the discussion, Meher, a citizen journalist said that she was proud of India’s human values like calling our country mother and respecting our fellow citizens.
Responding to the discussion, Vipul Kant Upadhyay said that there was a need for many more CJ portals like merinews to move towards a more participatory democracy.
Though, there diverse views, but there was a broad agreement that Citizen Journalism was important for a better functioning of democracy.
Anshuman Misra, Director (Operations), Merinews and Sudipta Sengupta ensured that the programme went on smoothly.
Earlier the Managing Editor, merinews, Arindam Roy welcomed the guests.
The programme was organised at The Harmony Hall, Nehru Centre, Worli, on Saturday (Nov 24) afternoon.
About Merinews:
Merinews was conceived two years ago to encourage a decentralized news gathering and distribution system, today leads the online news brigade by empowering people, lending them a voice. It ensures national and international visibility. Accolades won by Merinews include Webby Awards, which is akin to the Oscars of the Internet.
This CJ meet is designed to encourage independent and gutsy journalism from responsible Indian citizens who realize the power of the fourth estate in shaping the course of democracy.
With these meetings, Merinews wishes to highlight an emerging trend of the new media metamorphosing into a recognised interactive platform that lends a voice to the weaker and neglected sections of society bereft of the various vested commercial and other interests of the mainstream media which determines what kind of news is disseminated through which channels and how. Participation is open to all media-persons, business representatives, students, volunteers and professionals – virtually everyone with an active interest in offbeat journalism.
Contact: Sudipta Sengupta
Tel: +91 124 4133555
E-mail: sudipta.sengupta@merinews.com
25 November 2007, Sunday
Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.
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