Press in Goa, since pre-Liberation times was under
strict and severe censorship. The erstwhile
Portuguese regime used powers sometimes beyond their
jurisdiction to crush dissent. Obviously there was
justification since their interests in India and
colonies needed to be protected.
But post Liberation, the situation is quite different.
Fortunately, we live in a DEMOCRACY despite it, our
brand of journalism fails to enthuse the reader and
tends to be mostly servile to the regime in power or
vested interests.
The Editors of all except one English daily, are non
Goans. They have been imported from other States in
India and serve the press barons mostly industrial
houses. During their tenure in Goa, they bid their
time earning their living. They resemble those
passengers waiting on the platform for the next train.
The first few years of their stay in Goa are spent in
going through the archives to understand the pulse of
the people, vis-a-vis politics, economics and social
life of Goa and Goans.
There is an UNFORTUNATE DIVIDE which governs the ways
and lives of Goans and Goa.
The pro-Maharashtra, Marathi language lobbyists on
the one hand and the pro-Goa, Konkani language
lobbyists.
The former constitute the "Bahujan Samaj" castes
(read non-Brahmin castes) and the later the "Hindu
Bammon - Cristao" combine, (Hindus believe that
Catholics 'lose' their caste once converted from
Hinduism to Christianity-in reality caste rules
supreme among the Catholics from cradle to grave}
This influence governs the editorial and other matters
and issues reported in the news papers.
The English, Konkani dailies invariably extend
coverage to events in the Old Conquests viz; Salcette
Mormugao Bardez & Ilhas (Tiswadi) where the Portuguese
influence extended from 1510 to 1961, while the
Marathi papers cater to New Conquests, where the
Portuguese culture made a feeble influence since 1780
to 1961 viz, Bicholim,Pernem, Ponda,Sattari, Sanguem,
Quepem & Canacona.
Today as the number of newspapers periodicals etc are
increasing competition to some extent has crept in but
by and large the principles governing coverage remains
pathetically the same and those that tend to deviate
from this "unfortunate divide" fade away into,
oblivion even before celebrating their first
anniversary.
It suits the Government in power to maintain this "un
ortunate divide", since 25 of the 40 Assembly
constituencies ( the half-way mark of 21 is needed to
rule the State) are in the Old Conquests which have
invariably elected the pro Konkani elements and the
remaining 15 in the New Conquests have invariably
elected the pro Marathi lobby.
Its political party, the MGP, which never since the
80's when the Congress rule began, failed to stage a
come back, and now have almost gone into oblivion as
its leaders put self interests above party interests.
By hobnobbing with the right wing Hindu fundamentalist
party BJP it only ensured their "piggy-back" ride to
power since October 2000 . Sadly MGP seeks to maintain
this "unfortunate divide" playing up the emotive card
of language to help it stage a come-back.
The Government ensures keeping the newspapers under
their harness by not putting up a policy governing
the distribution of advertisements; which is the sole
major finance of the newspapers. Thus some newspapers
in Goa have earned the sobriquet of a "government
gazette" for they toe the governement line both in
letter and spirit without dwindling their readership
numbers because the Goan mindset is wedded to this
"unfortunate divide" no matter the advent of the
information era.
This is the ground reality -- a society governed by
the "unfortunate divide".
The quality of Editors, correspondents, news editors,
sub editors, reporters & stringers is dismal.
It should not surprise one that fresh undergraduates,
graduates are taken at top posts in the heirarchy of
the newspaper. In some cases even surplus staff at
the production level are taken as reporters or
sub-editors. To find a journo of an english daily,
who lacks command over the English language, holding
the top position of the newspaper is not strange.
In reality these pressmen are only "fronts" of the
various lobbies controlling the goverment, political
interests from the sidelines, viz;real estate ,
tourism or political parties. Journalism as in the
rest of the country is not a paying profession and
does not attract the best rather it disillusions the
bold free and frank journalist.
The Government offer these pliable journos doles in
the form of postings on Government committees which
ensure regular "tea and batatawadas" others are taken
on press entourages covering visiting dignitaries etc;
The industry offers dining and wining and sops in the
form of "gifts" with a view to get adequate coverage.
Many of the journos have enjoyed the hospitality of
the fly by night operators who have swindled crores of
rupees from gullible goans, the real estate industry
the tourism industry which have raped our palmfringed
beaches etc etc., infact even those venturing into
politics have got journos around who would sabotage
the reports and press briefings of the potential
peoples candidates. NGO's are treated as dirt no
doubt some of them do deserve this but it is not
proper to throw out the baby with the water in the
wash tub.
The journos as described above decide on the merits of
the press reports. Their excuse is either there is
"no space" the "news is late, lost its news value" or
"may not find favour with the policy of the newspaper"
and mind you all this is decided by the "immature,
limited knowledge or a self acclaimed know all" news
editor.
Broadly speaking advertisements viz,private, public
notices, tenders and birthday celebrations of
politicians,consume the major space of a newspaper,
next is politics, umpteen number of pressnotes issued
by politicians in and out of power or those vying to
come to power "social worker" .
The crime beat, coverage is ridiculous. The "inside
story" is suspicious and the questions raised by the
journos for readers to analyse or conclude are their
own imaginations never the facts. The titbits are
taken from the local police stations during their
almost daily rituals of visiting these local police
stations. The detection rate is dismal and there is
no follow up. Scams have a similar beginning and an
end both the reporter and the reader ends in doubt.
Scoops are almost unheard of and if at all there is
one it is the limited knowledge of the journo that
kills the news. It is a favourite by line for immature
journos to add in their "spicy news" "as confirmed
from reliable sources whose identity cannot be
disclosed" "or a source who preferred annonymity".
This is sheer gutless reporting and needs to be bowled
out from newspapers.The rest is sports and outdated
news from other national dailies.
Readership has tremendously dwindled, the youth look
at newspapers scornfully. Letter writers are always
the same writing on anything and everything under the
sun. Often such scurrilious writing is personalised
and the news editor derives sadistic pleasure if he
himself is a victim of similar complaints. The
MUNDCAR BHATCAR divide is so prominent that by itself
it is a caste in Goa.
The latest in the print media is the internet. The
writings of Goans within and outside speak of their
limited knowledge of man and matters in Goa and India.
The same mindset of an "unfortunate divide" prevails.
Websites replicate one another with a few additions
and deletions the nauseating news dished out to
netizens has resulted in their numbers fading. Most
of news capsules are only facts reported on the local
dailies which do not deserve coverage on the internet
but being ready material and easily available it is
the best source of news for the hungry diaspora
abroad. Most websites are outdated in an information
era where one expects news as of tommorow one is faced
with the archives at breakfast.
Can a society moulded by this sort of reporting
develop a "scientific temper"? Truly this is a subject
for debate and it is hoped readers will share their
thoughts on this piece.
godfrey j.i. gonsalves
B-F-4 1st Floor,
Hillside Apartments,
St.Joaquim Road,
Borda, P.O.Fatorda,
MARGAO GOA (INDIA)
mobile:98221 58584
Tel:0832-734870(R)
email:gonsalvesgodfreyji
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