Friday 31 March 2017

Media JOBS

Times of India, Chandigarh

Times of India, Chandigarh edition is planning to relaunch from 13th April by expanding some of its operations. They are urgently in need of 8 desk sub-editors and copy-editors. They also need one graphic designer. should have knowledge of InDesign.
Contact-saubhik.debnath@timesgroup.com. saubhik.debnath@gmail.com

DNA


DNA edit page is looking for an edit writer around 3-4 years of experience, who can write on a variety of news topics. Candidates can be from Delhi or Mumbai.

CVs to be emailed to jiby.kattakayam@dnaindia.net

Column | Jagate Thiba Jetedina

Samaja Saptahika 1-7 April 2017

Saturday 18 March 2017

Lecture


Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

Water Woes

As the tick forest is decked with new moist green leaves in mid March, Kali our 19 years old maid is worried. For with March comes the summer in Dhenkanal, a district HQ town of Odisha and with summer begins her ordeal to fetch water from a stand post located downhill.  Kali, in a way is fortunate as she has a stand post half a kilometer away from her home, from where she gets potable water.  Tens of thousands of women in Odisha have to walk between two to five miles to get water from streams or nalas or from hole dug on river bed (called chua). So do millions of women across the country and in many other developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Water.org, an NGO gives some terrifying water facts:
 3.575 million people die each year from water-related diseases
  43% of water-related deaths are due to diarrhoea.
  84% of water-related deaths are in children ages 0 - 14.
  98% of water-related deaths occur in the developing world.
  884 million people, lack access to safe water supplies, approximately one in eight people.
  The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.
  At any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease.
  Less than 1% of the world's fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use
The problem is acute in India because of its high population density, space and time variability of rainfall and increasing depletion and contamination of its surface and groundwater resources. Most water resources in India are contaminated by sewage and agricultural run-off. Besides, overuse of pesticides and chemicals in agriculture is the primary cause of groundwater pollution in India. Further, uneven water distribution across the country is another aspect of water problem. A large area of the country is water deficit whereas a small part is bestowed with abundance of water. This has led to inter-state conflicts.
The situation warrants urgent attention both at micro and macro level.
As the World Water Day is being observed on 22 March we must think about water.


Old Age Home

There is an Old Age Home run by a NGO near the small town in which live. I often go there just to be with the inmates. I found two types of people in the old age homes. One, who have come to the home on their own, and two, persons, who have been forced to leave home for different reasons and have been sheltered in the old age home.
I find many old and infirm persons abandoned by their near relations staying here. Some stoically moving on with their lives, reading books or listening to the bhajans or talking to other inmates or simply staring vacantly at the sky. Those who are able, tend the gardens and help the kitchen staff.  Some rue their family members. I have seen old ladies blaming and cursing their daughter in laws, but hardly ever they blame their sons for leaving them at the old age home. Some of them get old age pension. But few spend the money on themselves. They keep the money and give it mostly to their grand children. I am often amazed at the complexity of human relationship.
Nachiketa, a very popular Bengali singer of 1990s had a song on old age home titled Bridhashram.
Presently I chanced upon a story on social media which almost echo the narrative of his song.  Here it is:
After his father’s death, the Son decided to leave his mother at old age home and visited her on and off.
One day he received a call from old age home….Mother very serious ….. please come to visit.
Son went and saw mother in a very critical condition. In fact she was on her death bed.
He asked: Mom what can I do for you?
Mom replied… “Please install fans in the old age home, there are none…. Also put a fridge. The food often gets stale and as a result many times I slept without food”.
Son was surprised and asked: mom, while you were here you never complained, now you have few hours left in your life and you are telling me all this, why?
Mom replied…..”it’s OK dear, I’ve managed with the heat, hunger and pain, but when your children will send you here, I am afraid you will not be able to manage.

Tailpiece 1

I fail to understand why the words on railway e tickets are printed in such small fonts. I find it very difficult to read my coach and seat number.
Can’t the tickets be printed in slightly bigger font? Will somebody carry the message to the Railway Minister, please.

Tailpiece 2

Goa aur Manipur wale trainme congress chadne wale the lekin Amit Shah ne pahle se seat par apna gamchha phenk diya.
***

The columnist, a journalist turned media academician lives in Dhenkanal, in Central Odisha. He can be contacted at mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com
**
This column is being published in Gangtok based English daily Sikkim Times every Sunday and www.orissatimes.com

Days in March and April

Media Friends can plan stories around the day's theme.

March

March 3: World Wildlife Day
March 8: International Women Day
March 12 Dola
March 13: Holi 
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 20: International Day of Happiness
March 20: World Sparrow Day!
March 21: World Forestry Day, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 22: World Water Day
March 24: World TB Day
March 27: World Theatre Day

April

April 1: Utkal Divas
April 7: World Health Day
April 14: Visuba Sankranti and Ambedkar Jayanti
April 21: National Public Relations Day
April 22 Earth Day
April 23: World Book Day
April 28: World Day for Safety and Health at Work
April 29: International Dance Day,

Thursday 16 March 2017

Radio Jockey Workshop at Bhubaneswar



For the first time in Odisha, a Summer training program on Rjing is to be organized by Outreach. This 15 days  long workshop will focus on Radio Program Presentation. Students and youngsters can utilize the vacation to come across the exciting profession. 
"There is no dedicated RJ training program available in state for youngsters who want to make their career in Radio. So this workshop will definitely help the enthusiastic youngsters to know more about Rjing and Radio programme production" said Subrat Kumar Pati organizer of the program. The workshop will train participants on Radio Script Writing, Live Show Presentation, Pronunciation & Modulation, Outstation Broadcast, Radio News Reporting & Reading, Studio Visit, Listeners’ Interaction, Dubbing & Voice Acting, Public Service Broadcasting.
The participants will visit Radio stations and work on practical assignments in professional studios. During the workshop, importance will be given on Body Language & Personality Development.
Very popular Radio broadcasters, RJs, experts will join the workshop to train the participants. Every participant will be given a Certificate of Participation at the end of the Workshop. Minimum qualification required to join the workshop is +2. As limited seats are available, booking is going on first come & first serve basis. For more details on the workshop interested participants can call 7683870813.
The organizer of the workshop 'Outreach' is promoting radio in country by organizing different programs regularly. Every year Outreach successfully organizes International Radio Fair at Bhubaneswar.

CONTACT: Subrat Kumar Pati, 9861307280

Column | Jagate Thiba Jetedina

Samaja Saptahika 18-24 March 2017

Sunday 12 March 2017

Column | Window Seat

  • Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee
    Holi
    Holi or the fesval of colour is celebrated vigorously mostly in the North, West and East
    Indian states. It has several mythological and historical stories. There are several legends
    around the theme of Holi associated with many Gods and Goddesses of Hindu mythology.
    There is this legend of Holika, a she-demon dahan (burning). However, most of the legends
    are around Krishna and Radha. In fact, Holi is the biggest fesval in Mathura and Brindaban,
    (considered to be the birth and work place of Krishna) where people indulge in sprinkling of
    colours with gay abandon. There are many folk and semi-classical songs on Holi, many
    alluding to the playful banter between Krishna and Radha and her friends.
    Like several other fesvals, which have their origin in religious pracces but have become
    more of a social fesval with people of all religion, caste and communies taking part- Holi
    has become a big social fesval of fun and merry making. Food, especially sweets is integral
    part of most of the fesvals of India. Holi is no excepon. Good for people who love food like
    me.
    Photo: Tanmoy Bhaduri
    Rain before Holi
    Holi marks the beginning of summer in Eastern States. The temperature begins to rise
    considerably from this day.
    But this year, thankfully we had rains just on the eve of Holi and somebody promptly sent
    the following in the social media
    Ghabraiye mat
    Barish ka mousam
    Suru nehi hua hai
    Yeh to Sri Krishna apni
    Pichkari check kar rahe the.
    1
  • Exam Season
    In Odisha matriculaon examinaon just got over and ICSC examinaons have just begun.
    While going on morning walk I 4nd middle aged couples discussing only about the
    examinaon of their wards. They wear a serious face and talk endlessly how examinaons
    are becoming tougher and tougher every passing year with introducon of increasingly
    di5cult subjects in the course. The play grounds are wearing a deserted look. So do the
    hang out zones of the youngsters. I am told, youngsters are taking examinaons far too
    seriously than we used to do in our mes. They are far more career-focused that we were at
    their age. Or is the parents, who are pushing them too hard todo well’ in the examinaon?
    And are the parents doing right? I am li;le confused on this.
    Bank Charges
    The way banks have begun to take money from the customers for various services, may
    people like me have taken to disliking vising banks. Why should the customers pay charges
    for withdrawing money in cash? This is atrocious. In small towns and villages people rely
    heavily on cash. People sll are not very comfortable in paying through mobiles and the
    facilies simply do not exist. Penalising people for that is just not done.
    Tailpiece
    Wife asked a rered (from work!) husband - "What are you doing?"
    - "Nothing"
    - " That you did yesterday, too" "
    - "That's right- kaam puurraa kahana hua!"
    ***
    The columnist a journalist turned media academician also writes 4con. He can be
    contacted on mrinalcha;erjee@ymail.com