Letter to the Hoot--not a wasted opportunity

BY Thomas| IN Opinion | 11/11/2002

All India Radio’s contribution to rural development, family planning, the polio campaign, agriculture, education, art and culture cannot be under estimated.

Dear Editor

I read the article `AIR-75 years of wasted opportunity` with great interest. BA Sridhara has done a splendid job in analysing the major landmarks of AIR.

However, I strongly condemn the title of the article `a wasted opportunity`. As Sridhara has pointed out AIR has been a source of information, education and entertainment to millions of illiterate and poor listeners of India. We can`t deny the fact that AIR has been functioned under the direct control of central government over the years and propagated governments views/activities. In the meantime AIR`s contribution to rural development, family planning, polio campaign, agriculture, education, art and culture cannot be under estimated.

`A wasted opportunity` is a very sensational title. But in my opinion I don’t think anyone can plan radio in India without the influence of programming pattern of AIR.

Yesudhasan Thomas Jayaprakash

5/11/2002

TAGS

letter

Subscribe To The Newsletter

Media Watch Briefs

Amazon resisting voluntary censorship

The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.

Let the games begin

Clearly, the run to the 2019 elections is on. A journalist received a call from someone saying they were from Aajtak channel and were conducting a survey, asking whom she was going to vote for in 2019. On being told that her vote was secret, the caller assumed she wasn't going to vote for 'Modiji'. The caller, a woman, also didn't identify herself. A month or two earlier the same journalist received a call, this time from a man, asking if she was going to vote for the BSP.