Assignment Code: MJM-026 / July 2022 – January 2023

Course Code: MJM-026

Assignment Name: Print Media

Year: 2022 - 2023

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

Note: Answer all the questions. All questions carry equal marks = 20 each

Attempt each question in about 500 words.

Q 1. Explain the Functions of the Press Advisory Committee. 20

Ans) Each year, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is responsible for nominating members for the Press Advisory Committee. These members must be senior representatives of the press and have regular access to the Press Gallery. The Press Advisory Committee typically has 27 members, and the PPR Wing assists them with their secretarial needs. The representatives of the media who are now accredited to the Lok Sabha Press Gallery would be the ones to serve as members of the Committee if it is established. It has been decided that the roles of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Joint Secretary should each be filled by a different member of the Committee. These four individuals have been nominated for these positions.

Advisory committees are an organised mechanism for ordinary persons to express their viewpoints, research problems, and formulate solutions in a focused, small group setting. The main goal of advisory committees is to give the Mayor and Commission, the elected policy-making body of the Unified Government, wise counsel from a citizen perspective. Studying important issues, taking public testimony, conducting independent research, and reviewing staff reports and recommendations are all examples of activities that advisory committees might carry out. These activities are all designed to help the committee quickly discuss, formulate, and forward well-thought-out recommendations to the Mayor and Commission.

The Broad Functions of the Committee

1. To suggest the issuing of permanent passes to the representatives of the newspapers/news agencies/other media who want to report the proceedings of the House from the Gallery. These representatives are accredited to the Lok Sabha Press Gallery.

2. To recommend that temporary passes be issued to representatives of newspapers, news agencies, and other media outlets who want to cover the proceedings of the House from the gallery.

3. To investigate the allegations levelled against the representatives of the Newspapers, News Agencies, and other Media, and to report their findings and recommendations to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha so that necessary action can be taken.

4. To investigate the concerns regarding the Media that have been brought to the attention of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha so that necessary action can be taken.

5. To make a recommendation to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha regarding the kinds of facilities that may be provided to journalists in order for them to carry out their duties; and

6. To carry out such other tasks as are in line with the responsibilities that have been entrusted to them.

During the course of a Session, the Committee gets together for a meeting at least once. The quorum for the meeting of the Committee described above is equal to one-fourth of the total number of members. In most cases, the Chairman or Secretary of the Press Advisory Committee is the one who decides when and where the meetings of the committee will take place. At the following meeting of the Committee, the minutes from the previous meeting are reviewed and approved. After then, subsequent actions are done in response to the proposals and recommendations made by the Committee.

  2. Tips for Good Environmental Reporting. Explain. 20

Ans) Environmental issues aren’t simple. It’s easy to quote reports, but their technical terms and unfamiliar units are off-putting to many readers. These tips are designed to help journalists to make a good environmental report are:

1. Identify the Facts

Companies can operate legally unless environmental or health studies show harm. Give facts so your audience may decide. Using irrefutable environmental data to prove harm benefits the business. Ask industry reps about the testing they've done to ensure worker, resident, and environmental safety.

2. Explain the Terms

Writers must define terms since environmental specialists have precise meanings for phrases like "pump," "treat," and "buffer." Put a parenthetical or give a brief explanation in a sentence or two.

3. Get the Units Right

Environmental data are frequently provided using a wide range of foreign units. Please respect the group. It is more than just an ornament. Verify the units of the quantities being compared. Readers benefit from comparisons or parallels while learning new units. Use an analogy to explain the relative magnitude of an authorised amount or an actual amount after amounts in unfamiliar units.

4. Offer a Visual

Concerns about the environment can involve large or small quantities as well as unique units that are hard for most people to visualise. Reduce large amounts to manageable amounts. Comparative analysis helps readers comprehend quantity and gives facts meaning. In comparison, 1,000 kilogrammes (kg) each month are equal to 3 pounds every hour. One family's garbage for five years weighs the same as 1,000 kilogrammes of hazardous material.

5. Make Connections between Environmental Hazards and Health

Use current events and well-known environmental stories to make connections between environmental dangers and health effects. Inform readers on the specific health risks that contamination poses.

6. Identify Routes of Exposure

Build readers’ awareness of exposure pathways. Regulators may issue boil-water orders for drinking water, but there are other routes of exposure. All kinds of everyday activities can lead people to have contact with contaminants.

7. Relate Unfamiliar Hazards to Common Ones

Make it more relatable by contrasting state or EPA criteria for unknown dangers with those for well-known toxins. In drinking water, 0.005 mg of cadmium is just as dangerous as 0.2 mg of cyanide. Accordingly, 0.2 mg of cadmium, which is 40 times the recommended quantity, would be 40 times more dangerous than the same amount of cyanide. Because of this, you can inform readers that cadmium in drinking water is 40 times more dangerous than cyanide.

8. Explain the Averages

Compare averages to averages and raw data to raw data. Give the ranges and a benchmark for comparison, like state or EPA requirements, in addition to the average. Reporting an average can hide the conditions that people who live with the issue face on a daily basis. It is more accurate to give the circumstance a high and low value in addition to the average.

9. Seek Out the Data to Complete the Picture

Environmental consultants may feel pressure to proclaim a clean-up finished, so they report a level that demonstrates the clean success.

10. Acknowledge Changing Science

Recognize the influence of politics, contested claims, missing facts, and evolving science. Say so if there is any ambiguity. Inform readers of current and anticipated policy changes.

Q 3. Discuss the Role of Mass Media in Governance. 20

Ans) Media is key to information delivery. Whether it's cantankerous radio broadcasts in villages, your daily cup of tea without a newspaper, prime-time news shows to keep up with the newest news, or online news on your smartphone, media has spread its roots in an astounding way. The media's role in moulding public opinion on important topics is fundamental to democracy's success. The media is called the fourth estate because it does not defend civilians. Because each media has a specific audience, they work together to improve governance.

Importance of Media

Since accountability, transparency, responsiveness, equity, and inclusion are all components of good governance, in addition to effectiveness and efficiency, the media plays a significant role in ensuring that each of these requirements is occasionally met. The management of public resources and the conduct of public affairs are fundamental components of good governance.

The role of the media is even more crucial for a growing nation like India, which still struggles with superstition, communalism, and casteism. The media should be more confident in their obligation to present the underprivileged with contemporary solutions for eradicating poverty and other social ills due to their ignorance and backwardness.

The enormous gap that exists in India is another reason why media is of utmost importance. In the Human Development Index, it is ranked pitiably lower than even its neighbours, despite having one of the world's fastest expanding economies. Less journalists report on the number of deaths or the unemployment situation, despite the fact that many more journalists cover the more glamorous and glittery events and news. The rationale of media rests in promoting cutting-edge technologies for the advancement of its citizens while also assisting the government in the fight against diseases like AIDS, Polio, and Cancer.

The media should be watchful of how the rules of the land are being applied and that neither the government nor any other rogue elements are breaking them. In this regard, it has recently shown its superiority by successfully prosecuting a number of lawbreakers. In fact, it has gone above and beyond by exerting pressure to guarantee that victims receive justice. However, frequently, we see that it goes beyond its function as a watchdog and instead tries to provide the judgement, which is the judiciary's job.

Numerous governments around the world have been accused of corruption, which has frequently resulted in the toppling of corrupt officials or the introduction of greater systemic openness. As a result, the fourth estate can also assist make the current system more effective. Engaging millions of listeners, readers, or viewers is one of the media's strongest functions. In this way, the media effectively fulfils its essential duty of ensuring that its citizens participate in the national decision-making process.

Conclusion

The media's role has expanded over time, and it will continue to grow as more people aspire for better governance rather than dictatorial rule. The media occasionally emphasises some issues, but rarely digs deeper. The media's objective reporting helps ensure fair and effective government governance.

Q 4. Difference between column and Special Article. Explain. 20

Ans)

Column in Journalism

A column is incredibly important to journalism. A regular article or piece in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication is called a column. It may be released every day or perhaps once a week. The author's perspective or point of view is expressed in this piece of writing. The author is given a space on the editorial page, typically referred to as "Opinion," where a piece of writing with their opinions or views on a certain subject or topic appears.

The term "columnist" refers to the individual who writes the column. The column gives the author the freedom to express their opinions as they see fit. There are no limitations when it comes to column writing; whatever insight, expertise, and experience the writer has regarding a given topic or subject can be expressed in the column. Even the liking and disliking are seen in the columns far too frequently.

By exploiting their sources, columnists can provide readers with many facts that traditional journalism or news reports cannot. Since news must present the facts, they are unable to delve deeply in the way that a columnist may using the influence of his or her viewpoint. The reader frequently sees hidden truths in the columns, but sometimes they turn out to be incorrect. However, this occurs because sources are involved in providing the information.

Anything can be made or broken by the columnists. Most of the time, their observations are accurate, and the information they receive from their sources discloses the hidden truths. Because of their extensive expertise, experience, and constant access to a wealth of information, they are typically compensated well. Their role has surpassed that of the print media in today's era of digital media, and they are now frequently seen hosting talk shows, giving interviews on news channels, and maintaining their own blogs. They play a huge significance in society as well as in journalism.

Special Feature Article

A special feature article is a thorough presentation of information in an engaging style that is designed for rapid reading with the intention of entertaining or informing the typical reader. It typically covers one of the following: (1) recent news that is significant enough to justify elaboration; (2) timely or seasonal themes unrelated to news; or (3) topics of public interest unrelated to current affairs.

The special feature piece is more than just a news storey, despite frequently being news related. By providing additional specific information about the people, locations, and circumstances that are mentioned in the news columns, it seeks to enrich the news report's basic facts. News must be released as it happens, with just enough background information to make it understandable. The special piece, written with the perspective provided by a gap of a few days or weeks, adds life and colour to the plain contours of the rushed news sketch, completing the image.

The earlier style of magazine article is different from the special feature piece more in terms of form and style than in terms of topic matter. The most obvious distinction is that it augments accepted literary and scientific exposition techniques with the more eye-catching elements of narrative, descriptive, and dramatic writing.

Q 5. Write any two Short notes. (250 words each) 2 x 10 = 20

Q 5. a. Types of Editorials

Ans) Editorial is a section in newspaper or magazines in which the writers or editors share their opinion on ongoing topics.

There are different types of Editorials:

1. Interpretation Editorial it explains what is considered to be important in the news event or on current issues. It gives information such as main characters of the news, factors, actions taken place and all the other important details. Here the interpretation is made on the basis of facts and figures available. Here no personal opinions are stated. There is a wide variety of editorials in this category, ranging from those which provide background information to those which identify issues.

2. Criticism Editorial this style is used when one must see both the good and bad features of the news event or any kind of news item through the eyes of an editor. The editor shares these editorials to influence people and at times add the solution at the end.

3. Editorial of Appreciation in this the praise or appreciation is given to those who have done well in their work and deserve an appreciation.

4. Entertainment Editorial in this those topics is taken that would interest the youth. Topics that would be light in nature and serves as an entertainment. One is the short humorous treatment of a light topic. The second is a slightly satirical treatment of a serious subject.

5. Editorials of argument and persuasion take a firm stand on a problem or condition. They attempt to persuade the reader to think the same way. This editorial often proposes a solution or advises taking some definite action.

Q 5. c. Press Conference

Ans) A press conference, also known as a news conference, is an occasion for the media where prominent people or groups invite reporters to hear them speak and ask them questions. Politicians, businesses, non-governmental organisations, and event organisers frequently hold press conferences. One or more speakers may give a statement during a press conference, and then reporters may ask them questions. Sometimes there is merely questioning, and other times there is a statement with no room for queries.

An organisation or company may hold a press conference with the presence of journalists to announce significant news (such as the commencement of a campaign) related to the firm or organisation. Journalists can learn more about your organisation and campaign in this interactive setting. Sending an advisory or news release to assignment editors, preferably far in advance, is a common way to publicise a press conference. They occasionally happen on their own when a newsmaker draws a crowd of reporters.

Politicians, sports teams, celebrities, film studios, commercial companies promoting their goods, lawyers promoting court cases, and pretty much everyone who benefits from the free attention provided by media coverage frequently hold press conferences. Many police chiefs are among those who reluctantly hold press conferences in order to avoid speaking with reporters one-on-one.

Press conferences, from a journalistic standpoint, lessen the possibility that specific publications or media outlets will miss the storey. Additionally, it enables them to divide the effort of interrogating the interviewee. Another reporter will likely remember it if one forgets or ignores it.