News Blogs in India: Exciting Form with New Challenges

News Blogs in India: Exciting Form with New Challenges

Blogging Your Way To The Future

When we blog we are using a new media platform. "New Media" is attracting a lot of attention these days because of the possibilities which are on offer. Starting from the days of static web pages we are already a part of an interactive web environment thanks to web 2.0. Now we are in the midst of a social media revolution where creativity is finding a shared environment to thrive. Facebook, Myspace, twitter and other networking sites are allowing an alternative media space for different voices to be heard. It's really interesting to upload images, ideas and observations over these platforms, tag friends and seek their response. However, critics have opined that this open creative space is getting diluted by over usage of self advertorial material and cynical way of looking at things. That is an area of study which we will approach in a subsequent paragraph. Now to ponder on this issue closely, research and in depth study on new media is somewhat complex. There are already "self styled new media experts" who are claiming to have decoded this new phenomenon threadbare. I will not criticize these "intellectual thinkers" but will like to add that to be expert on new media, which is a vague term in itself, active practical usage of the medium is a must. We can be academically rooted to this media and don the hat of an expert but that is total disservice to its very essence. 

pic source: www.interactiveinsightsgroup.com

When I blog or discuss about 'new media' I accept that I am a humble learner. I will discuss things from the perspective of a learner, not an expert because being an expert on new media is risky given its constantly changing nature. Blogs bring in a whiff of fresh air because there is space to think differently and talk one's own mind. Mainstream media like television, newspaper and radio is top heavy with little space to be dispassionate and objective on issues. Paid news is a problem that needs to be given proper attention. It is an alarming development and has all the ingredients to subvert democracy. When ideas are twisted from the top to serve various interests little is left to honest assessment.According to Press Council of India’s draft report of enquiry titled “Paid News: How corruption in the Indian Media Undermines Indian Democracy” deception happens at three levels:

a) The reader or the viewer is made to believe an advertisement as independently produced news content.

b)  Candidates contesting elections do not disclose the true expenditure incurred on campaigning, thereby violating the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.

c) The newspapers and television channels concerned usually receive funds for ‘paid news’ in cash and do not disclose such earnings in their company balance sheets or official statements of accounts. Thereby the media company or its representatives violate the provision of the Companies Act, 1956 as well as the Income Tax Act, 1961 among other laws. [1]

These are some dangerous observations coming from the office of the Press Council of India. This is where blogs and other social media platforms come into relevance. The recent blasts in Hyderabad led to innumerable posts from netizens on facebook and twitter. It was enlivening to see various individuals sharing emergency numbers to help those who are in distress. The care for fellow human beings might have taken a digital turn but these developments are always heartening in times when cut throat competition and strive for more and more personal gains are wiping out finer qualities. 

As discussed earlier, there is a growing concern over tendency to be self obsessed and cynical in social media. Criticism is always good when it is constructive but equally damaging when done just for the sake of it. Looking with skeptical  eyes on each and every development stems from cynicism. This trend has to be curbed for a vibrant virtual space. The growing authority of alternative ideas which is forcing different governments to step back under pressure and use highly questionable means to control, gets undermined when used for cynical jibes and sharing pages which always profess "doom". Social media cannot just be used to state whether one has brushed his teeth in the morning or not. It can be used for effective means. While it is true that facebook, myspace and twitter have ignited the imagination of young minds, blogs are yet to have the same impact. Blogs can be used to engage communities who are serious about knowing all sides of a developing story, engage over meaningful discussion on social issues and exchange ideas for progress and change. Though academic communities in western countries are using blogs to interact with students and also throw valuable insight to research, this trend is yet to catch up with academicians in eastern countries specially India. When the world is looking for new methods of teaching it is time to come out of the shackles of polemics and try something worthwhile. Teachers and students are all running after theoretical knowledge and their expertise is getting judged by marks. However, education is about using the acquired knowledge for greater good and not about being smart with marks and short of ideas. Dynamism, the key word in this changed global system, is in delivering new ideas. New media is ushering in a new education environment where application and ingenuity are in more demand than mockery of marks. Serious news can be catered over blogs if the intent is serious. Though tough at times, credibility of news blogs can be established by maintaining objective standards. Why not think of a time when a good investigative story gets published in a blog? Why not think of a day when journalists jostle for serious blogging? Lets hope for a time when a political commentary in a blog has thousands of followers, each expressing their point of view with utmost freedom!  

[1] Source: Emerging trends in the Indian Media Landscape-Malaise of Paid-Content and the Need for Greater Accountability. Pitabas Pradhan in Media Watch Journal, Volume 3, Number 1, January-June 2012. 

 

Evening Handbags and How to Get Hold of the Best Ones

There are many different events and occasions that we women attend or grace to all year long, some are annual events like birthday celebrations while some are once in a lifetime moments that we simply cannot forgo. It could be a dinner engagement, a big client meeting wherein you need to seal the deal, and a whole lot more. And during these important and precious moments, you need to look as special as the event by dressing up well and carrying the necessary fashion items and accessories. And when it comes to accessories, all women should be carrying those elegant fashion purses with them. So here are some important thoughts and reminders when picking those ladies handbags and purses that will accentuate your outfit and help you leave a lasting impression.

Sizing, Colors, and Textures Count

First off, you need to consider a number of aspects before paying for any evening bag or fashion purse that catches your attention whether in the stores, boutiques or most especially online. And one of them is the size of the bags or purses that will match and compliment you and the clothes that you wear. Generally, speaking, bags during special evening affairs like dates and intimate meetings should not be able to cause you stress and hassle as far as having to carry them is concerned, so opt for something that is smaller than the average bag but make sure that is offers enough space to carry all your valuables that you need to bring for the night like your wallet, keys, and maybe some makeup.

pic source: 

http://images.wwfind.com/products/picture/201231513/3151232625.jpg

Next are the colors of the ladies handbags or fashion purses and getting them right. To save you from headaches in choosing the right colors, stick to the safe and neutral ones like black, silver and gold which are quite versatile to mix and match with almost all sorts of outfit colors, particularly the solid-colored ones.

And lastly, choosing the right textures and patterns of the fashion purses. As a rule of thumb, go for something that sort of contrasts your outfit. If you are wearing something that is plain-colored and is streamlined, then go for ladies handbags that are textured such as leather, especially the exotic ones. Just try to mix them in order to create more character.

Pic Source:

http://img.alibaba.com/wsphoto/v0/402212943/2011-Brand-New-Women-s-Leopard-Alexa-Clutch-Bag-purse-Clutch-Bags-Evening-Bags-Handbag.jpg

Never Forget Price And Quality

And of course, you should always be mindful of the price range that you can afford and the quality that you expect to get from the ladies handbags and fashion purses that you will be buying. Set a budget and stick to it so that you will be able to trim down your choices. You really need not spend a lot of money to enjoy something that is stylish especially if you will be purchasing online. But do make sure of the quality that you will be getting. If you are buying in the stores, examine the quality of the bags carefully. Check the stitching, the lining and the materials that were used. If you will be buying online, do some research on the reputation of the websites you will be buying from.

About the Author-

Patricia May has been writing about general fashion and chic handbags which she truly loves to death.

Film Review: The Magic of Barfi

I am an ardent film lover, a movie buff, whose definition of an ideal weekend is definitely a trip to the multiplex!!!

Source: UTV Motion Pictures

Barifi came as a whiff of fresh air, when I went to watch it this Friday!!!

Set in the 1970’s West Bengal with its beautiful retro looks and pastel shaded surroundings, Barfi’ is the story of a deaf –and-mute person named Murphy who is popular by the name Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor). In spite of his physical challenges, Barfi is brimming with energy, magic and music! The film portrays his relationships with two women (Ileana D’Cruz & Priyanka Chopra) in his life and how it goes through a roller coaster ride of love, friendship, heartbreak , pain and union over a period of six years. Barfi is filmed in Darjeeling where the mist, tea gardens, and the settings of the famous coffee joint, Keventers will bring back memories buried deep within. In the second half you get to see Barfi set in the alleys of North Kolkata, with the Howrah Bridge in the back drop.

The Story is simple and yet refreshingly different, reminding you of classics of Raj Kapoor style and of films like Sadma. Screenplay is awesomely done, and it is particularly commendable the way the writer weaves a tale of love which seems so close to real life. The story is about Barfi’s journey of love with Shruti and Jhilmil . Shruti -- a beautiful girl, soon finds herself falling for Barfi’s magic touch in spite of acknowledging the differences they had socially and she being engaged to Ranjit ( Jishu Sengupta) already. The romance blooms between the two as Barfi charms her with his innocence, his happy ways, his smiles, and his energy. The two share bicycle rides through pine forests, horse-saddles and their very tender midnight kiss for the first time. As the film progresses pathos sets in over concerns involving engagement rings to the kidnapping of an autistic young woman called Jhilmil (which is the central plot.) Things change and gear faster than Barfi would understand.

In the turn of events Barfi falls for Jhilmil later, understands her ways, sets her free, nurtures her like a knight in shining armour and finds a new definition of love with her.

We see the characters of Barfi, Shruti and Jhuilmil meet in the cross roads of life. Shruti breaks free from her love less marriage to come back to Barfi, and Barfi madly chases Jhilmil.

The music is stupendous and Pritam brilliantly make us croon the songs long long even after hearing them. ‘Main Kya Karon’ romantically tells us the magic one feels after falling in love, ‘Ala Barfi is a superb character description of Barfi himself. A beautiful gazal in the second half shares the pain and helplessness of meeting ones lost love suddenly after long!

The cinematography is flawless and Anurag Basu’s direction is powerful too. We see ace Bengali actors like Ashish Vidyarthi, Jishu Sengupta and Rupa Ganguly in Barfi. Use of Chaplinistic comedies and Raj Kapoor styled dressing and romance has ornamented the films with many jewels. This film is a must watch in all respects.

Barfi teaches you that love has its own language, own music, own expressions which alone makes life worth living, you have to be in love and relish the gains, pains and sweet nothings that comes your way….

Please go and watch this beautiful film!

About the Author- 

Srirupa Ganguly lives in Hyderabad and is in perennial love with writing. Having a distinct style of her own and wide experience in writing for quite a period of time, she is known for her insightful view on events.

Special Guest Article: Journalism and Literature

Though journalism is junior to literature in terms of age they move hand in hand. They depend on each other in terms of format as well as a little bit of content. Such dependence can be compared to neighbourhood living when neighbours living together owe a lot to mutual exchange.

Journalism deals mainly with information which is supposed to be factual in nature. The legendary proverb says "facts are sacred, opinion is free". It justifies the importance of information which we expect to get from the practice of journalism. On the contrary, literature goes for elaboration of the human lives entangled with subtle niceties which are deliberately transformed into art form. When journalism paves the foundation of history with factual information, literature delves into the depth of human relationships.

When journalism tries to capture a time or a situation on the basis of factual information, literature goes to explore the factors as well as sensibilities leading to the levels of perceptions and understandings. For understanding Mahatma Gandhi, newspapers can be of immense help so far as information details are concerned. But understanding Gandhi in literary format must have to be different. Literature accommodates imagination while journalism puts no entry to the artifice to it at the expense of factual information. But ironically this contrast has failed to go against the good impact of live-in condition of journalism and literature. Today's print journalism stands greatly on the story telling techniques of literature. Print journalism has been tablodized conveying multi colours. 

About the Author-

Dr. Baidyanath Bhattacharyya is teaching journalism for about three decades. Author of five books in journalism, mass communication and guest editor of a reputed online media journal, Dr. Bhattacharyya is considered one of the experts in journalism education.

Kumartuli: The Puja Flavour & Some Images

Goddess Durga Getting Decked Up With Other Family Members

Lord Ganesha Getting A Dash Of Colour

Biswakarma Idols Being Ferried In A Tempo

Goddess Durga Awaiting The Final Touch

The Beauty Of Lord Ganesha

Kumartuli Artisans At Work

Almighty Goddess Durga

Goddess Durga Fighting It Out With Evil

Durga Coming in Plenty

Indian Women: Fighting with Physical Abuse

Women were regarded as central part of the society from time immemorial though society continued to be patriarchal. Women were worshipped as goddess; adored as mother, wife and sister. But some incidents of recent times show that they are nothing more than objects of flesh and blood to satiate carnal pleasure through force. Every day when people flip through newspapers in search of good news like development in the country, economic progression etc they are confronted with just the opposite story. Women are been assaulted, molested and tortured both physically and mentally by men who can best be equated with beasts.

Pic Source: Maktub Photos (picasa)

 

Leaving aside the Vedic age when women commanded a lot of respect they have always been looked down upon as a commodity which is for pleasure and enjoyment. It is depressing to digest debates across the country which partly blames the tempting dressing of women leading to their rape. But these discussions cannot be accepted when globalisation is in full swing and when the global transfer of culture and ideas has reached a sizable proportion. In western societies women are much liberal in deciding what to wear which may raise eye brows in Indian standards but still the crime rate is lower compared to us. Primitive thinking of parda system is still in the mind of people who think dressing sense of women is all to blame. However, dress hardly matters to the perverts. We read in newspaper or see in television that a girl wearing salwar suit gets raped and furthermore women who are wearing sarees are also not spared. A woman who wears provocative dresses (according to Indian sensibilities) attracts a lot of lustful onlookers. 

 

Now we can come to a conclusion that cultural backwardness of Indian society is the main factor for lack of respect to women. We hear or read that our country has undergone a revolution or it is developing day by day but the actual scenario is bleak. Society is thinking over ways which enable women to get more opportunities so that they can be placed on an equal footing with men through legislations and enactments. Today we find women as ministers, chief minister, prime minster, president, top executives, sports-person etc but the fundamental question regarding respect to women still comes secondary. At present women irrespective of their age are searching for "security”. Now question is- who will ensure their security? 

About the Author- 

Nilika Banerjee is student of Journalism & Mass Communication at Rani Birla Girl's College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.