By Harsha Man Maharjan
There is a saying: winners write history. Do you believe this?
I am trying to link this notion with history channel, a tv channel. It broadcasts programs related to different aspects of history. This is one of my favorite channels.
Among its program I like Biography. This program even got chance to be the top ten programs in India few years ago. Its old footage attracts me. How charmingly these programs use steel photos to tell people’s stories. I can only praise the channel for this.
Few weeks ago my belief in the channel shattered. On that day it presented a program on four world famous royal massacres. I forgot details of two of them. Remaining two was about the Tsar family of the USSR and the family of King Birendra.
I could hardly believe what the program told about the royal massacre of Nepal. It blamed then prince Dipendra for the massacre. We all know this was the official version, only few Nepali believed.
My hope at that time was to get information on general people’s disbelief about the official version of the massacre. The world must know this fact and the history channel could have done this. But it took only the official version and quelled alternative versions.
Still today history tells only winners’ tales.
How sad. Isn’t it?
24 April 2007
23 April 2007
Nepal Army’s PR Material in Kantipur TV
By Harsha Man Maharjan
People blame Nepal Army for its weak public relations. This scenario is changing these days. People of Pili, Kalikot are thankful to the army for building a road. It seems that these people will never forget the army’s contribution. The road will make their life easy. There is no doubt.
Here my concern is on another thing. These days my exam is going on and I am immersed in it. I had hardly time for other activities. Yet I managed time to watch a talk program of Kantipur TV, Bahas during my exam.
On April 21, 2007 I was surprised to see a documentary on the bravery of the Nepal Army, I place of Bahas. I was a wee bit late and missed the beginning part. I didn’t know the reason of this. Even earlier some times other programs took Bahas’s place.
The documentary was about the army’s ability to construct road. All people were praising the army’s deed. Rukmanga Kattuwal was doing the same.
While watching the program, I thought that it might be the footage of Kantipur TV. Actually Nepal Army made this documentary. This was shown in the end of the program. It was a public relation material to upgrade the army’s image.
What was the motive of the Kantipur TV behind showing this documentary? Was it used as a filler only to fill time? Or, was it the planned program of the Nepal Army? Had KTV any axe to grind through this documentary? Questions remain.
People blame Nepal Army for its weak public relations. This scenario is changing these days. People of Pili, Kalikot are thankful to the army for building a road. It seems that these people will never forget the army’s contribution. The road will make their life easy. There is no doubt.
Here my concern is on another thing. These days my exam is going on and I am immersed in it. I had hardly time for other activities. Yet I managed time to watch a talk program of Kantipur TV, Bahas during my exam.
On April 21, 2007 I was surprised to see a documentary on the bravery of the Nepal Army, I place of Bahas. I was a wee bit late and missed the beginning part. I didn’t know the reason of this. Even earlier some times other programs took Bahas’s place.
The documentary was about the army’s ability to construct road. All people were praising the army’s deed. Rukmanga Kattuwal was doing the same.
While watching the program, I thought that it might be the footage of Kantipur TV. Actually Nepal Army made this documentary. This was shown in the end of the program. It was a public relation material to upgrade the army’s image.
What was the motive of the Kantipur TV behind showing this documentary? Was it used as a filler only to fill time? Or, was it the planned program of the Nepal Army? Had KTV any axe to grind through this documentary? Questions remain.
03 April 2007
THe Himalayan Times' Craze for the word 'Stop Press'
By Harsha Man Maharjan
Being a student of Journalism and mass communication I know what the words stop press mean. THese days a English braodsheet daily, The Himalayan Times is using this words in its front page giving scores of games in World Cup Criket. Is this word to be put in the page? I don't think so. So I search in internet to know more aboutit. Here is what I found its meaning 'late news that is inserted into the newspaper at the last minute'. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stop+press.
By using this word THT is trying to show that it is doing the job which is out of the dateline. Yet, million dollar question is: Is it needed to write the word there ? Many readers blame THT for focussing only on factual information. It never did investigative reporting, except the breaking news of Charles Shobraj. It never dare to challenge any side. This is a typical example of 'objective journalism.' I am still think THT evade cartoon.
By Harsha Man Maharjan
Being a student of Journalism and mass communication I know what the words stop press mean. THese days a English braodsheet daily, The Himalayan Times is using this words in its front page giving scores of games in World Cup Criket. Is this word to be put in the page? I don't think so. So I search in internet to know more aboutit. Here is what I found its meaning 'late news that is inserted into the newspaper at the last minute'. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stop+press.
By using this word THT is trying to show that it is doing the job which is out of the dateline. Yet, million dollar question is: Is it needed to write the word there ? Many readers blame THT for focussing only on factual information. It never did investigative reporting, except the breaking news of Charles Shobraj. It never dare to challenge any side. This is a typical example of 'objective journalism.' I am still think THT evade cartoon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)