Communicate With Care

On Monday, March 14, 2005 a seminar on 'Ethics In Journalism' was organised by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta (CU) under the DSA programme, at the Ritwick Hall, CU College Street campus.

In his introductory lecture, CU Journalism and Mass Communication guest faculty, Mr. Snehasish Sur from DD News, cited practical examples to emphasise the importance of timely and adequate flow of accurate information as an essential pre-requisite for adherence to journalistic ethics.

Executive Editor of 'Sambad Pratidin', Mr. Anjan Basu, also an academician and an alumnus of the host department, observed that with the change in social paradigm over time, values and ethics also change, and journalism being very much a part of any civilised society, has to keep pace with this change.

In his speech, Mr. Sheshadri Chari, an eminent journalist as well as a politician of repute, drew instances from real-life anecdotes and news, as also from The Mahabharata and history, to re-establish the fact that ethics are to be adhered to not only individually but also collectively in every sphere of life, the profession of journalism being no exception. Zeroing down on flawless language and brevity as the hallmarks of journalism, he highlighted the importance of both academic and hands-on training for new-age journalists. He urged for flexibility in adherence to journalistic ethics in the larger interest of public good.

The lively students-panelists interactive session touched upon such relevant issues like varying standards of publication of photographs in natural disaster and terrorism coverages, and soul-sale dichtomy in professional journalism.

Among the other dignitaries present were Prof. Dr. T. Basu, Head, CU Department of Journalism and Mass Communication; Dr. D.P. Dey, Secretary, Faculty Council of Arts, Commerce and Journalism and Mass Communication CU; and eminent journalists and academicians like Mr. A.K. Mitra, Mr. R.M. Banerjee and Mr. Santanu Sanyal.