Southern States - Karnataka   

Academy preparing code of conduct for journalists

By Our Staff Correspondent

GULBARGA July 21. The Chairman of the Karnataka Press Academy, Arjundev, on Sunday stressed the need for a code of conduct for journalists. The academy had already started the process of arriving at a consensus on framing the code of conduct.

Inaugurating Press Day celebrations jointly organised by the Gulbarga Chapter of the Karnataka Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), the Information Department, and the Hyderabad-Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HKCCI), Mr. Arjundev said one round of discussion with the editors of various newspapers had been held in this connection.

It was necessary to have mandatory or at least recommendatory code of conduct for journalists, which would go a long way in streamlining the functioning of journalists.

The academy, which was established with the sole purpose of conducting workshops, training camps, seminars, and publishing books, was now slowly widening its scope by involving members of the electronic media in its activities.

Journalists would be provided training in computers, and the academy would soon chalk out a programme to make all journalists computer literate. Mr. Arjundev said the Press was an important pillar in democracy and journalists should function as role models for others and should not fall prey to temporary riches.

"We should maintain integrity and should not digress from the path of truth and honesty," he said.

By allowing Foreign Direct Investment in print media, the Centre had created a fear psychosis among journalists and wanted the Government to review the decision since it would have a telling impact on the functioning of the democracy.

The President of the chamber of commerce, Amarnath Patil, warned that the newspaper industry was destined to face unhealthy competition after the FDI in print media was allowed and would meet the same fate as many industries which had to close down after the entry of multinational companies, which monopolised the trade.

Basavaraj Swamy, who spoke on "Present status of small newspapers in Karnataka", said small newspapers were going through a bad time due to the unhealthy competition from the State-level big newspapers.

Mr. Swamy said it was unfortunate that the Government had done nothing to protect small newspapers and the State-level newspapers were eating into the advertisement revenue of small newspapers by slashing advertisement rates.

The State Government considered the advertisements given to small newspapers as a charity.

P.Ramiah, MLC and veteran journalist, said the big newspapers were not a threat to the survival of small newspapers.

The two had different roles to play.

However, it was imperative that the Government should lend a helping hand to protect small newspapers from extinction.

The KUWJ President, P.M.Mannur, presided over the function.

The KUWJ General Secretary, Anil Gejji, proposed a vote of thanks. Shivaraj Patil compered the programme.

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