Media event Article-19 commences at MAHE

MANIPAL: To me, freedom means the right to offend, said Swarajya’s consulting editor and columnist Anand Ranganathan, addressing the audience of young, aspiring journalists, at ‘

Article-19

’, the three-day media event of School of Communication (SOC),

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

(MAHE), on Thursday.

Addressing the gathering, Anand Ranganathan stated, “There are two things that young journalists exhort: Firstly that journalism should be independent, and secondly that there is no such journalism which is not subjective. Most journalists happily accept that they are ideologues themselves.”

The event, which is also the oldest core communication event in India, marks the celebration of the ‘Freedom of Speech and Expression’, granted by Article-19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution. The inauguration of the event was graced by Swarajya’s consulting editor and columnist Anand Ranganathan, Manipuri author and director Bobby Wahengbam, Padma Rani, director, SOC and others.

SOC alumni deliver a special address to the students each year, and it was Telugu film director and SOC alumnus Nag Ashwin, who will host an interactive session after the screening of his award-winning film ‘Mahanati’, on the second day of the event. “The fest provides a platform for students to meet various people from different walks of life,” said Padma Rani, while flagging off the inaugural programme.

Another highlight of the 2019 edition of ‘Article-19’ is that there will be a live session on Friday, with famous historian and citizen journalist and founder of the news blog ‘Mosul Eye’, Omar Mohammed, speaking at the event.

The 3-day event has several talk sessions, workshops and fun cultural events including games, where colleges from across the country will participate. There will be dance, music, photography and creative writing events held. The events will wrap up on day 3, with the exclusive award ceremony titled ‘Express Awards’, and a ‘Funfair’, which will be a celebration of the event in a unique and memorable way.

The inauguration also includes the screening of a documentary tribute to the Indian trade unionist, journalist, freethinker and former Union minister George Fernandes, which was specially made by SOC students.