WHERE are the women in the media of today and how visible are they? Are women journalists more vulnerable than male journalists? How many women editors are there? Can women editors make a difference to the quality of male-dominated journalism which focuses overwhelmingly on politics, sports and entertainment and dismissively on issues relating to women, children and the primary quality of their life - something which impacts society far more? Are women journalists as professional as men journalists? Are single women more successful as journalists? Is there a forum for the valid grievances of women journalists in print and electronic media?

BY SAIKAT DATTA
ABOUT A decade ago, when Akashdeep Pandey came to Mumbai armed with a fresh degree in cinematography from Rajasthan University, he was one of thousands dreaming of making it in Bollywood. Today, the crawls of a few Hindi films made under the bigger banners-such as Yuvvraaj, starring Salman Khan-mention his name as assistant cinematographer. However, it’s his work in Marathi cinema that he remembers with satisfaction.

BY NANDKUMAR KAMAT
EXACTLY eight years ago, on February 7, 2002, at 10.30 am, I entered the office of Mr Manohar Parrikar, MLA, Panaji and then CM of Goa, at the Old Secretariat accompanied by Mr. Sandip Jacques, then GM of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) and the liaison officer for a one man commission appointed by the Finance Department to conduct a public hearing on Miramar beach management (privatisation) plan.

BY NANDKUMAR KAMAT

Thanks for your deep interest and love for Goa. I could see that you left an indelible positive impression on the audience. Many powerful dignitaries had been to Goa but for the first time in many years I heard voices of optimism and hope from simple folks who had assembled at Verna. Congratulations! Touched by your sincere approach and dynamism, I’m responding to your request in the public consultation held today at Verna to submit some points to make Goa’s case special.

A SERIOUS debate is now raging about the inadequacy of the ex­isting mechanism for enforcing the judicial accountabil­ity of any erring judge in a High Court or in the Supreme Court. There is now a general consensus that some recent incidents involving a few in the higher judiciary has exposed the inadequacy of the existing provisions to deal with the situation; and it calls for an effec­tive mechanism to enforce the ju­dicial accountability of the higher judiciary, in case of need…

BY USHA M RODRIGUES
IN THIS era of globalisation and a globalised media environment, news is still local be it in the form of being local about a local place, or about a local person living overseas. And this sense of localism seems to dwarf the basic rule of journalism — objectivity. When teaching journalism, I often tell my students that there are two circumstances when news is not objective (and even not expected to be covered objectively by its audiences).

BY DR ROSARIO MENEZES

It has been conclusively established that, in India, it is the stray dogs infesting public areas that are responsible for transmitting the rabies infection. India is perhaps one of the few nations in the world which permits stray dogs to infest roads, market places and beaches, giving precedence to dogs over human life and safety. As a consequence, India has acquired the infamous and shameful reputation of contributing to the highest number of deaths from rabies in the world - one death from rabies every thirty minutes, according to a report by APCRI/National Institute of Communicable Diseases.

THE NATIONAL Crime Records Bureau has identified 11 specifically gender-based crimes, other than those that are committed on women as well as men. These crimes come under the purview of the Indian Penal Code and other special laws. More than 60 years after independence and after the Constitution of India guaranteeing gender equality to the women of this country, all these crimes show no sign of abating, but are actually increasing substantially in absolute number as well as relatively.

A RUSSIAN national, the victim, aged about 25 years presently working at Hotel Leela situated at Mobor-Cavelossim lodged the complaint with the Colva Police Station against the respondent accused around 4.15 pm on December 2, 2009. . The victim complainant was referred to Hospicio Hospital, Margao for her medical examination. Medical examination of the victim revealed 12 injuries - bruises and scratch marks on various parts of the victim’s body such as wrist, thighs and knees.

EXCEPT FOR self-serving hyperbole, the Ayodhya campaign did not enjoy the willing and voluntary support of the common person, even of the average Hindu…the demand for a temple never really became a public movement…The rallies and yatras were aimed at the emotionally charged common man and to make him a part of the demand…