Letters to the editor

Distance in coverage 8226; THIS is with reference to your 8216;The Idea Exchange8217; with Nick Gowing The Sunday Express, July 1. The ...

Distance in coverage

8226; THIS is with reference to your 8216;The Idea Exchange8217; with Nick Gowing The Sunday Express, July 1. The points raised by Express staffers during the discussion held with Gowing were very thought-provoking. Consequently, we stand enlightened on the broader definition of the media and its role. As a student of journalism myself, I was taught that the discipline of verification is at the centre of journalism. Accountability as an internal aspect of the media organisations and social responsibility as an 8216;external8217; factor go together. In response to the question raised by Saubhik Chakrabarti, 8220;Don8217;t you have a fundamental suspicion that despite the best journalism and best institutional checks, one of these days, even the BBC would be hoodwinked into showing something that it couldn8217;t make out was manipulated?8221; Gowing responded: 8220;There is also an ethical issue about accepting material shot by those complicit in events.8221; In view of this discussion, I would recommend that journalists maintain a degree of independence or distance from those they seek to cover. I strongly believe that credibility is the key to journalism.

8212; Onkar Chopra, New Delhi

Trust the Cong

8226; IN his absorbing article, 8216;The truth, without serum8217; IE, July 11, Shishir Gupta points out our lackadaisical approach to tackling terrorism and Naxalite depredations as also the violent activities of the militants in the entire Northeast. As if this is not sufficient, the security agencies are discouraged from acting tough. The reasons are not far to seek. Naxalite help was taken in the 2004 elections. It helped the Congress win the AP elections of 2004. In the Northeast, there is a belief that militants have their sympathisers in the ruling circles. As for the terrorists, one can trust the Congress not to be business-like because otherwise its vote bank could be affected. It wants loyal and not capable hands in crucial positions.

8212; M.K.D. Prasada Rao, Ghaziabad

Highest quibble

8226; THIS refers to Prasad Lele8217;s letter, 8216;The right choice?8217; IE, July 5. He accuses the Congress of fielding a 8216;tainted8217; presidential candidate and enumerates several charges against Pratibha Patil. I would like to remind him that Narendra Modi8217;s followers have been defending him against the charges of abetting the 2002 Gujarat riots by saying that nothing has been proved against him in a court of law. The same can be said for the allegations against Pratibha Patil, too. They have not been proved in any court of law. Everyone is talking about the charges against Pratibha Patil. What about Bhairon Singh Shekhawat? Despite being a part of the RSS and the BJP all his life, why is he in the run as an independent?

8212; Ishtyaque Ansari, Bharuch