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Content is the king in news writing
A WORD can make or break. Going by the impact of vocabulary in news writing, it becomes significant for us to go for the ?standardisation? of terminology to be used in journalism, said Prof Ram Sharan Joshi, renowned journalist and vice-president, Central Hindi Institute . Addressing the inaugural session of three-day national workshop on 'New terminology of journalism', Joshi said while fixing the ?standards?, experts must keep in mind the usefulness of the word rather than the ?purity? of language.
A WORD can make or break. Going by the impact of vocabulary in news writing, it becomes significant for us to go for the ‘standardisation’ of terminology to be used in journalism, said Prof Ram Sharan Joshi, renowned journalist and vice-president, Central Hindi Institute (Agra).
Addressing the inaugural session of three-day national workshop on 'New terminology of journalism', Joshi said while fixing the ‘standards’, experts must keep in mind the usefulness of the word rather than the ‘purity’ of language.
According to him, since the news writer has to file stories under utmost work pressure and time constraints, it becomes tough for him to do justice every time. “In this context, the training and standardisation of terminology becomes more imperative,” he said.
Taking a dig at the use of Hindi proverbs in English journalism, Joshi said, the popularisation of the language called ‘Hinglish’ was not healthy.
From ‘Shilalekh’ to ‘chip’ and from print to electronic and cyber media, , writing and journalism have covered a long distance. Hence the evolution of new vocabulary and change in writing style can be justified. The only need, however, is to ensure that we don’t damage identity of the language.
Guest of honour, Uday Sinha, chief editor Sahara Times expressed concern over the ‘dramatisation’ of news by the electronic media. He said, sensitisation and packaging of ‘masala’ news was dangerous and the strongest pillar of democracy might face a credibility crisis, if things were not checked in time.
While terming ‘content’ as the king, Sinha said, the glorification of personal issues of ‘Gudiya’, Imrana and others was nothing but joining the ‘TRP’ race.
By giving out of proportion coverage of such cases, electronic media had been highly irresponsible and as viewers, the so called Indian middle class has derived only sadistic pleasure, he remarked.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, AU VC Prof Rajen Harshe exhorted mediapersons to come out of ‘black and white’ presentation of things but dwell into grey shades.
“Scribes should realise the significant role they play and hence ensure that they should ‘critically evaluate’ happenings while writing. Stressing that good work should be highlighted more Harshe said, media could create an atmosphere wherein people could graduate to understanding duty from demanding rights.
RK Mishra, representative of Technical Terminology Commission, New Delhi, said the body had identified lakhs of new words over the years and was working day and night to evolve ‘standardisation’ of terminology to be used in journalism.
Earlier, Prof GK Rai, director, Institute of Professional Studies, welcomed the guests. The function was conducted by Dhananjay Chopra of Centre of Photo-journalism and Visual Communication, AU.
The workshop is being attended by top journalists, litterateurs and language scientists from all over the country. The workshop , jointly organised by the AU Institute of Professional Studies' Centre of Photo-journalism and Visual Communication and the Scientific and Technical Terminology Commission, New Delhi, is being held at Delegacy, AU.
