Ref : ER/Press04/media/dG/46

CERC-CMS Roundtable Discussion on
‘Recent Shifts in Media Operations’

The Centre for Media Studies (CMS), New Delhi, and Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad, have jointly organised a National Roundtable Discussion on ‘Recent Shifts in Media Operations’ to be held on the CERC campus on Tuesday (12 October 2004) from 09:45 a.m. to 02:00 p.m.

Mrs. Mrinalini Sarabhai, Honorary Director, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, Ahmedabad, who will be the Chief Guest at the Discussion, will deliver the Keynote Address.

The Roundtable will focus on the contention that despite a recent proliferation of TV, radio and newspapers in the country, neither the role, reach and relevance nor the range of news coverage of the media has expanded. It will also debate whether today the media represents more the voice of the corporates than that of the community, and whether it is still journalist-driven.

What does the ‘paradigm shift’, as perceived, mean for the dilemma involved in the media operations? Is media public service or for private interests? To what extent do advertising and market research determine the scope of the media? The Roundtable Discussion will try and understand ‘the distortions and contradictions’ and explore correctives.

Earlier, National Roundtable Discussions on the topic were held also at New Delhi and Hyderabad on 25 June and 31 July 2004 respectively. While the New Delhi deliberations were on the distortions in the policies, the Hyderabad one was more on an “alternate model” of the media. Together these two Roundtable Discussions provided insights into the challenges and opportunities at this juncture.

At the Roundtable at Ahmedabad, Dr. N. Bhaskara Rao, Founder and Chairman, CMS, and Ms P. N. Vasanti, Director, CMS, will make a presentation on the topic and a group of distinguished citizens from different fields will submit their comments on the presentation. They include Mr. Kingshuk Nag, Editor, The Times of India, Ahmedabad, Mr. Manubhai Jani, Deputy Director, All India Radio, and Mr. Ravi Dixit, Adjunct Professor, Mudra Institute of Communication Ahmedabad (MICA).

Date : 10/10/2004
Place : Ahmedabad

Pritee Shah
Editor
INSIGHT - The Consumer Magazine

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CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE
“Suraksha Sankool”, Thaltej, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad - 380 054 (INDIA)
Phone: 079-27489945-46 Fax: 079-27489947
E-mail: cerc@wilnetonline.net
Web Site: http://www.cercindia.org
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