http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=104459
INDIA: 'Media must form public opinion' Journalist Ravindra Reshme says media should call out politicians who change parties and ideologies "overnight" The Times of India Friday, February 6, 2009 Chitradurga --- Today secularism is losing ground to communalism in Indian politics, said journalist Ravindra Reshme on Friday. He was speaking at the 75th Kannada Sammelana. Presiding over a seminar on 'media and social responsibility', he cited instances of politicians changing parties overnight and becoming secularists and vice versa. Therefore the media has an onerous task of forming public opinion against it, he pointed out. He ridiculed dynastic politics that is being followed by leaders of all parties. In such a situation, prime minister Manmohan Singh stands out for his honesty and transparency, he noted. Other speakers Ganesh Amingad, Abbur Rajsekhar, N R Nanjunde Gouda and S Manjunath highlighted the impact of recession even on journalism. They said media had failed to highlight the plight of farmers who are committing suicides, the problem of illegal mining and wrong practices by multinationals. Date Posted: 2/6/2009
