Debate on role of media

KOLKATA: Is the rat race for breaking news among news channels and newspapers breaking up the country? Eminent personalities of the city came together to debate the topic at the fourth annual Jacobean Vs Xaverian Debate organised by the St James' School Alumni Association on Saturday.
Dr Kunal Sarkar, journalist Sneshasis Sur, film producer Arindam Sil represented St Xaviers' College Calcutta Alumni Association (SXCCAA) and spoke against the motion, 'Breaking news is breaking up the country'.The Jacobean panel had Dr Ranjan Roychowdhury, along with young students. The session was moderated by former principal of St James School, John A Mason and
judged by journalist Utpal Chatterjee and former Kolkata police commissioner Gautam Chakraborty.
SXCCAA emerged the winners. "The standard of content on the news channels has degraded significantly. They prioritize on playing up on the entertainment quotient rather than hard news. It is also a fact that many media organisations in India are owned by politicians," said Ranjan Roychowdhury speaking for the motion. Where the Jacobeans stressed on the issues that media is irresponsible in news coverage and often sensationalise insignificant chunk of information, the Xaverians maintained that the media understands the responsibility and no news story has ever been so harmful as to break up the country.
"If politicians own media, we will never hear about a new scam every day. It is important for the media to play up a scams or derogatory remark by any renowned figure so that they know that nothing can be taken for granted," said Arindam Sil speaking against the motion.
Team SXCAA was adjudged the winner and
Summing it up, Chatterjee said the media needs to act as a mediator between power-holders and the common man. saw both Jacobeans and Xaverians speak one on one on the notion and was awarded the winning trophy. "India lives in villages and about 70% of the country is rural. Media plays a very constructive and responsible role in informing and influencing these people. With changing times, the need for a mediator between the power-holders and the common people has risen. And media role comes into play here," said Chatterjee, summing up the topic for the evening.