The Media and PR Cell of Xavier University, Bhubaneswar (XUB), IlluminatiX, hosted its media conclave ‘Communiqué’18 XUB’ on theme ‘Media: Still a Mouthpiece for Free Speechij’ here on Saturday.
The Quint Senior Correspondent Meghnad Bose, independent journalist and author Anna MM Vetticad, communications trainer and political commentator and Anchor at NDTV Tejas Mehta, India Today Group editor Sudhi Ranjan Sen and Dr Nadira Khatun attended as guests.
Sen spoke about the neutrality of media these days and told about the shift of media from ‘Also Profit’ to ‘Just Profit’. He quoted that “Good media cannot exist without the support of people” and that “Free content isn’t always the best way to get your news”.
Tejas Mehta talked about the two major players: Media and the Controllers. He further pointed out the fact that half-truths, censorships and political bias have become the rulers of the show these days, and to be completely neutral should be a journalist’s USP.
He concluded by quoting that “In the political context, we are not enemies, we are just rivals” and that “A journalist’s credibility depends upon his/her neutrality”.
Anna MM Vetticad stated that a whole gamut of
opinions is being oppressed and that the freedom of expression has to include the right to offend. Meghnad Bose mentioned that we should learn to question the media for all its omissions and commotions and posed a concluding question asking, “Is self-censorship today also not an act of the governmentij”
A question and answer round was also held. On the occasion, the monthly newsletter ‘Xperience’ was released and the winners of Communiquiz- a quiz competition and Critique- a national article writing competition were awarded.