<Ben writes that his 'idealism received a jolt of reality when Lambert Mascarenhas, editor of the periodical then, engaged in propagandist campaigning, suggesting that such slanted writing was necessary to achieve the end.' However, the slant that Lambert employed seems to have been
dictated by his first employer, that is the owners of Navhind Times.>
BA
Actually, Sachin, if you read that paragraph again, you'll note that the 'slant' refers to the Goan Tribune where Lambert was the editor before 1961.
---------
SP
<Ben also says that Lambert told him that whetting the editorial written by him was part of the contract that the latter had entered into with the owners. Under the circumstances, one has to inquire whether Lambert was ever committed to a free press.>
BA
You'd have to ask him--he lives in Dona Paula, Panjim and as far as I know he's not on the internet.
However, my own comment regarding a free press is this: There's no such animal. Freedom of the press is relative, never absolute, as I have stated in my conclusion.
-------
SP
<The events that Ben writes about relates to 40 years ago, and one wonders if the rot that is there today, and so intensely discussed recently on Goanet, seems to have a long history.>
BA
Well, your curious mind seems to be tilted in the right direction--there's always a historical basis for the actions of human beings.
-------
SP
<It would also seem to me that Ben also presents himself in poor light. He says: "On the campaign trail, I traveled the length and breadth of Goa, speaking to Congress candidates and often manufacturing 'news' that purported to show that people, by and large, were in favor of Congress candidates." This seems to be completely against the ideals that Ben had set out for himself when he joined the profession.>
BA
Well, Sachin, you've arrived at a reasonable conclusion. From my experience in journalism, I'd say that idealism and journalism are soon parted. In other words, journalism is a graveyard of idealists.
-------
SP
<Furthermore, it seems that he expected to be rewarded by the Congress party if the party had won the elections.>
BA
Sachin, if you read that section again (Congress and the phone call to Kakodkar) you may discover that I was trying to probe the character of Kakodkar whom I had known so well and considered my friend. I was in a bind, but the curiosity in me (Curiosity, by the way, is the journalist's best friend) triggered that phone call. I am not ashamed of having made that phone call--I just wanted to know what his answer might be. But I was disappointed with his answer.
In Toronto, for example, many reporters will ask politicians such questions, and politicians being politicians will answer according to their whimsy. But you're right to think I expected a reward. Now, in hindsight, what do you say? Am I glad to be in Canada or what?
-------
SP
<Then there is the point about the effectiveness of the media, vis-à-vis the society at large. While the Navhind Times tried to manipulate the facts to project a Congress victory, on the other side of the world at another time, that is Canada in the year 2000, another newspaper tried to manipulate the readers into voting for a particular party. In both cases, the results were
utterly against the publications. So, I wonder at the relevance of the media in fulfilling the needs of the society.>
BA
Allow me to say this: The relevance of media to society at large is not as great as it is made out to be.
------
SP
<I wonder if the lesson is that the society has a mind of its own which cannot be manipulated.>
BA
That indeed is the lesson. In fact, on October 2 this month we had an election in Ontario and the Conservative party was booted out after eight years in power. I must say, though, that the people of Ontario (second largest province in Canada with 9 million people after Quebec)are amazing, truly democratic. We have thrown out Liberals, then the New Democratic Party and now the Conservatives in the period of 20 years. If the politicians don't listen to the people, the people tell them what they think of them at the next consultation of the people(elections). But at the federal level it's not the same.
------
SP
<And perhaps this is what Rajan Narayan should keep in mind in his new venture.>
BA
The new IGO, in my view, should reflect the needs and aspirations of the people of Goa. The paper must expose bribery at all political levels--panchayat, zilla parishad, municipal, and state politicians. It's not going to be easy because, as you might know, Sachin, the corruption in Goa is systemic. It will take a few good years to stem the rot. So Rajan will not be able to influence the people if the paper is not seen to be the people's paper. In Toronto, of the four dailies, the Toronto Star is seen to be articulating the people's concerns the most.
And finally, I want to say this: My article in the E-book contains original material that I have never written about before. I mentioned this to Fred Noronha, a fine journalist, who collated the ebook. Only the journalist knows where the shoe pinches.It's not always easy to live up to one's integrity and idealism.
Ben
========
Note from Cecil Pinto:
Ben Antao is NOT subscribed to GoaNet but can be e-mailed at <ben.antao at rogers.com>. If Sachin (or anyone) wishes to further this discussion please keep Ben Antao in the loop with a c.c.)
========
########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
