Indian Media on the Global Wheel

Powerful media conglomerates have been increasingly eyeing India (and China) as good investment destinations since these are the countries where media business is expected to grow very fast. Therefore, be it CNN’s tie up with Indian Broadcast News (IBN) or Reuter’s pact with The Times Group, the influence of globalization is undeniable.

In the early 1990’s, Dr Manmohan Singh, the then Finance Minister, inaugurated liberalisation in the country. More than a decade later in 2002, this touched the media when the Union Cabinet overturned a 1955 cabinet resolution that prohibited foreign ownership of Indian news publication. The new cabinet decision allowed 26% equity in news and current affairs publications and 74% equity in non-news and non-current affair publication.

Dominant gateway

The media has arguably become the most dominant gateway through which globalisation is virtually marching in the country. Following the opening of media to foreign direct disinvestment (FDI), foreign media players have begun to enter into tying up with their Indian counterparts to expand their own empires.

Entry of foreign giants like BBC, Reuters TV and CNN is only confirmation of the fact that India represents an increasingly attractive market to major corporations. They provide media with the content and services across borders and regions. Others from countries like USA, UK, South Africa, Qatar, Australia and Ireland are said to be keen to exploit the potential here.

Understanding globalization in media requires a compelling urge to weigh the pros and cons of its effects on the country’s economy. According to certain media critics, FDI in news media is unlikely to remain restricted to the stipulated 26%. This is only the thin end of the wedge that would culminate in the floodgates being opened.

These experts fear that this could eventually see the entire media passing into foreign control. The outcome of this would be annihilation of most of the small and medium scale Indian newspapers, as only a few major national players would have the strength to face up the competition.

Foreign players

Looking at it from another perspective, the entry of foreign players can also benefit the small publication houses, as they will now find a readymade access to global capital. This way, the smaller publication houses will have a good chance to rise and give stiff competition to established players. For example, Economic Times, publication of TOI Group had monopoly in publication of a business daily. But Business Standard after selling off its 14% stake to Financial Times Of London has thrown a punch back, as it is now published in seven cities of India, sold in 500 towns, and gets access to editorial and marketing expertise of international financial media.

The presence of FDI in media ensures a heavy pay package to the media professionals, and renders to have easy access to world-class magazines like the National Geographic. However, if the primary focus of foreign player is on profit, then there will be increase of advertisement, especially of foreign commodities. Media will, then, be more and more advertisement oriented, and the main role of the press will be lost in the bargain.

Some people consider globalisation of media responsible for westernisation of our culture. A recent study shows that teenage abortion rose by 20% in a year, as teenager feel themselves pressurised to indulge into such acts due to the explosion of sexually explosive material, which is n now readily available . An other disadvantage is that the coverage of international events in Indian newspaper is predominantly supplied by western news agencies like AP, AFP and Reuters. This gives more westernized approach to the news content.

However, its not one-way street. India has also contributed its bits towards globalisation. The biggest example is the explosion of interest in Bollywood. Hindi films are exported to more than 100 countries resulting in overseas booking and video rights that account for 30% of film revenues.

Role of the press

The question that arises now is that in a democracy like India, where press plays an important role, including building national integration, will the foreign investors will have same commitment, as they are primarily profit driven? Relief can be sought in an example of transnational operators like Rupert Murdoch, who have recognized the values.

Modern Communication System: Boon or Bane?

Gone is the era when we used pigeons as our messenger to send messages from one place to another. Time has somersaulted now. We are living in a world where whole of the world has shrunk to the tip of a finger. What Marcony and Charles Babage did was really a wonder, but what we are doing today to innovate the system is more to wonder.

Innovation of communication technology like radio, telephone and television in 20th century brought a revolution in communication technology, which facilitated the way of modern communication to stun the whole world with its unique characteristics. Today cell phone and Internet are the two modern communication technology waving most to wonder. These technologies do not only provide us the fastest way of communication but also save our enormous of time by giving bundle of information in one click.

We just need to imagine. By the help of Internet, we can obtain the degree of American universities while being in India through online education system. By surfing World Wide Web (WWW), we can acquire every kind of information we need. We can visit Goa, Mumbai, Sydney, London or any other city of the world with just a click. We can buy the stuffs being auctioned at Paris while staying at Delhi. Through online matrimonial service, we can choose the right bride or groom of choice from around the world. We can even buy aeroplane and train tickets through Internet without waiting in queue. These are just few advantages of Internet to count.

Likewise, cell phones are also the one medium of fastest communication. Besides, making phone calls, we can send SMS (Short Messaging Service) to other cell phones. Even we can send MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) or video clips to other cell phones. New generation mobile phone, using technology called GPRS – General Packet Radio Service led us to access Internet at broadband speed, many time faster than the dial-up telephone connection. Today, even cell phones are offering the functions of desktop personal computers.

From radio and telephone to mobile phones and Internet, today we can not imagine our daily life without the use of these modern sophisticated communication tools. But, the grim fact of enormous disadvantage of this technology can’t be ignored, as it has been hazardous to whole of the society in some aspects. According to surveys, the young generation today is becoming more and more addicted to watching pornographic websites on Internet, which carry offensive and unethical information. Internet hacking is another increasing offense, which destroys and mishmashes the important information. The most to be wary of today is camera phone including spy cam. Currently in vogue, these camera phones, being used to take photographs and video clipping are causing trouble to society when its unethical information is put on public display through compact disks available in market.

Whatever the disadvantages of these modern communication tools are, these are becoming much more helpful to society than being just hazardous. These sophisticated communication tools with its plenty of advantages appear to be boon to our society, despite being baneful in many aspects. Being a responsible human being, every individual ought to use these technologies only as a boon in order to utilise its facilities in making a better society.

Roaming With Reminiscences

The most economic way to find some delight out of complexity of life, according to me, is to look back to happy past and muse over the metamorphosis that has benefited you by taking place in your life. Being an individualist, I would write everything individually here, just move three years back when someone entered the threshold of our college. Images are still vivid. A boy with a blue satchel, walking alone and quietly with the air of an introvert, too shy to shake hands with strange people standing before him… coming back today it all remains only in memories. It is quite pleasurable to think about the big leap that you take gradually and meticulously in your life.

For the last three years I have been associated with a temple, cathedral or whatever you may speak, which meant most to me. A college is usually supposed to be a medium to acquire your degree, and a place where you can have abundance of fun with no domination of parents and teachers. Besides these two, the very first function of the college is to shape solidly our purpose of existence. Being on the verge of crossing adolescence we all know our ability. We all know what we are and where we have to go. Everyone of us here stirs with a purpose. For somebody, this purpose is his goal and ambitions; on the other hand, somebody lets his purpose be confined within few fleeing recreations.
I remember my earlier college days when I was forced to enroll in such a college, more renowned for “maar-dhaar” than its quality of education. Coming form a hamlet, a thousands kilometers from Delhi, and enrolling at this college at the same time my peers belonged to top-notch colleges, was degrading to me. Unlike those days situations are different today. I am far happier with the valuables my college has given me. It gives me warm satisfaction how all my goals are coming nearer one-by-one in my life. I know everything will come, if I work and wait. In every coming moments I get my mind full of movements; movements that yield plenty of ideas with plenty of goals. Today, there is nothing I would dare to dream of. If one dream fails and break into, I pick those pieces and begin again.

In three years, I have been taught not only several masterpieces, which comprise works of Milton, Dickens, Tagore, Homer, Pope, Keats, Shakespeare, etc. but also to know the depth of life and its philosophy though such masterpieces, taught by the intelligentsia of our college like KM Singh and Annie Thomas Rojer. Every word coming out of their mouth is like gospel. In each of their lectures, I would keep listening to them carefully and taking every word to the core of my mind. Sometimes ardently I wish how fortunate I’d have been if I were son of these god-like angels. For some for my teachers all my solemn words could be ridiculous as they always found me invisible in their classes and visible with nymphets; walking here and there and having tête-à-tête. Speaking tartly but truly, all teachers cant provide you the learning you expect from them. Teachers ought to pay attention to every student individually instead of listening to few students who keep reiterating “Yes sir” and “Yes madam” like empty vessels.

There are two things - difficulties and friends, without which life would really be dull and boring for us. Remember “a smooth sea never makes a skillful mariner”. We ought to enjoy passing through ups-and-downs. Coping with difficulties always gives bravery and also an opportunity to know the persons who deserve to be your real friend. Friends are jewels that add great value to your life. Classrooms are not only the places a student should belong to. Don’t you fine it pleasant to sit in the library with friends and pretend to study while chatting quietly; having sandwich and sprite with your colleagues in a clamorous canteen; walking arms-in-arms with your affectionate one in corridor and sometimes flocking together with friends and having heaps of laughter and fun? Age has certainly a great appeal to all human being. And blooming of youth appeals more directly to hearts than mind. You often get fascinated by the angelic look of someone whom you want to be with. Mums the word, I am not exception to it as I was mesmerized by one of my juniors, who’d always blush before me like ‘rose’ and would make my heart pulsate faster.

There will be much wider reminiscences tomorrow, when I am gone off after having three years of unique sojourn in this temple. One-by-one everything shall appear before my eyes… disciplined teachings of KM Singh sir, smiles always playing on the face of mother-like Annie Ma’me…confabulating for hours with my alter-ego under the bamboo trees in the dense ridge…metro trains passing close to our college and we watching them from our class-room’s window… and ultimately the vision will appear of a boy with a blue satchel, walking slowly and quietly with the air of an introvert, entering the threshold of our college, three years ago