Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 28
HAVING FELT the need for journalists in the Northeast to back their work with better analytical presentations and credible information, Panos South Asia is initiating a study tour with an orientation session for journalists starting tomorrow. Panos, which has branched out into several locations across the globe, after originating from London, works with the media.
The Morung Foundation is in partnership with Panos for this particular tour which will cover Dimapur, Kohima, Diphu, Merapani, Geleky, Tura and Guwahati.
On April 29 and 30, reputed personalities, such as Subhir Bhaumick of the BBC, are to deliver short lectures to form part of an orientation for reporters from the region. Panel discussions are to follow.
Already here in Dimapur, Panos South Asia members Sanjay Barbora and Kazu Ahmed elucidate on the requirement for journalists to play a more concerted role in addressing issues related to conflict.
They are especially specific in the belief that journalists should also adopt the role of activists and researchers moulded into one. Confronted with the question on whether a journalist can also play an activist’s role, Kazu promptly gives explanation that a journalist can play a partisan role for the positive growth of society- provided he backs his presentations with data collected by undertaking research.
Panos (a Greek term for lighthouse), occupies itself with issues mainstream media misrepresents or ignores. For instance, the media can address HIV/AIDS as a public health issue, Sanjay says.
For the region, Panos is awarding media fellowships to a select few journalists after scrutiny this year. Sanjay and Kazu are hopeful that more from the press can be accommodated for such fellowships in subsequent years.
A string of workshops is also down the pipeline. Panos also commissions articles. They’re equally concerned for journalists working under constraints of resources which in turn hamper the quality of dissemination of news.
An easy and effective way of communicating news to the people, especially in rural areas, is through radio commentary, Sanjay quips. Panos already has a state of the art radio facility at Kathmandu, Nepal and plan to explore the potential of radio journalism for the northeast region.
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