---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kanak Dixit <[email protected]> Date: Wed, Dec 24, 2008 at 6:33 AM Subject: press release from Kanak To: Venantius Pinto <[email protected]>
*Press Release* *Kathmandu**, 24 December 2008* * * *Media must observe restraint: South Asian editors* As journalists from South Asia, we have been deeply saddened by the horrific killings in Mumbai and are also deeply concerned about the fallout of rising India-Pakistan tensions on the entire region. We call upon all media professionals, especially in the television networks, to observe restraint in reportage and interpretation, and to be careful to avoid imbalance. Tens of millions of South Asians, and many across the world, have closely followed the news of the recent developments through the print, audio and visual media and the Internet. The media coverage has influenced opinion on crucial issues and impacted on the political stance and policies of the authorities. In the current situation, the media cannot be seen as being partisan or driven by a particular agenda. Media can exacerbate or ameliorate a situation: we are keenly aware of this, as jouranlists based in the various parts of South Asia who continue to seek a common future in peace. *Signatories:* 1. Mahfuz Anam, Daily Star, Dhaka 2. Anuradha Bhasin, Kashmir Times, Jammu 3. Subir Bhaumik, BBC, Kolkata 4. Sumit Chakravarty, Editor, Mainstream, New Delhi 5. Dileep Chandan, Editor, Asom Bani, Guwahati 6. Kanak Mani Dixit, Editor, Himal Southasia, Katmandu 7. HK Dua, Editor-in-Chief, The Tribune, Chandigarh 8. Yubaraj Ghimire, Editor, Newsfront, Kathmandu 9. Rehana Hakim, Editor, Newline, Karachi 10. Sanjoy Hazarika, Columnist, New Delhi 11. Nurul Kabir, Editor, The New Age, Dhaka 12. Kumar Ketkar, Chief Editor, Loksatta, Indian Express Group, Mumbai 13. Abbas Nasir, Editor, The Dawn/Dawns NewsTV, Karachi 14. Kuldip Nayar, Columnist, New Delhi 15. Mrinal Pande, Editor, Hindustan, New Delhi 16. Pradip Phanjoubam, Editor, Imphal Free Press, Imphal 17. A J Philip, Associate Editor, The Tribune, Chandigarh 18. Pamela Philipose, Chief Editor, Women's Feature Service, New Delhi 19. Ghazi Salahuddin, Columnist, The News, Karachi 20. Siddharth Varadarajan, Associate Editor, The Hindu, New Delhi 21. BG Verghese, Former Editor, Indian Express/ Hindustan Times, New Delhi 22. Narayan Wagle, Editor, Dainiki, Kathmandu** *Contacts: Kanak Mani Dixit, Kathmandu +977-98510-53209* *Sanjoy Hazarika, New Delhi +91-9810050526*
