Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, March 31, 2010:
Foundation for Media Professionals, Delhi in its eleventh series of media dialogue organized a panel discussion today on 'North East: Fallen off the Media Map?' in collaboration with Nehru Memorial Museum and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
The panels comprised of Subir Bhaumik, BBC Eastern India Correspondent and Author of Troubled Periphery, Pradip Phanjoubam, Editor, Imphal Free Press, Syed Zarir Hussain, Managing Editor, News Live, Assam, Dibang, former Managing Editor, NDTV India, Sanjoy Hazarika, Centre for North East Studies and RS Pandey, Interlocutor Naga Peace Talk and Former Chief Secretary, Nagaland with session moderator Sevanti Ninan, Editor, thehoot.org.
Hundreds of students and people from the North east residing in the capital attended the session.
Key debates focused on the role of the mainstream or mainland media specific in contributing to the isolation of the region of North East India, on the question of a very less space given to this vast region, a comparative coverage of new and features of the region with that of other 'conflict areas' like Kashmir or the North west like Mumbai or Gujarat.
In its analysis thehoot.org found that there were more than 50 news reports on Kashmir and an average of 10 reports on Manipur in the three main National papers, Times of India, The Hindu and The India Express in the year 2009.The figures of conflict related death shows more numbers in Manipur than J&K, where 72 civilians, 69 militants and three paramilitary troops were killed in Manipur while J&K records 41, 27 and nine civilians, militants and troops respectively.
The debates strongly emphasised on the commercial aspects of media, its readers and viewers, its demand and supply chain.
While it also noted the hardships faced by journalist in the region, a positive note of change had also been witnessed in recent times.
Many stories remain to be told, stories of world records and the other side of conflicts.
While talking to this reporter at the sidelines of the debate, RS Pandey expressed hope that Naga peace talks may take a positive turn.