Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB) - Pics Praveen Tauro Kulshekar

Mangalore, Jul 1: The Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists' Union here observed the "Press Day" in the Press Club on Saturday morning.

The day, July 1, has special emotional attachment to the city, since it was on this day in 1843 that the very first Kannada newspaper 'Mangalooru Samachara' was launched by the Basel Mission here. It is for this reason that the day is observed as the Press Day by the media community all over Karnataka.

At the Press Club on Saturday morning, media and advertising stalwart and Magnum Intergrafiks chairman Sudhir P Ghate was the keynote speaker. He spoke on the changing trends and innovations in the media.

Sudhir Ghate addressing the gathering

He began with his recollections from his student days, when he was closely associated with M V Hegde of the editorial department of the now-defunct Kannada daily Navabharat, published from here. Hegde - who also wrote under his pen-name "Mvich", representing his initials MVH - ran a highly popular column 'Arthagarbhita Vartegalu' in that newspaper.

Ghate further referred to the rapid way in which news is being communicated through hi-tech means. In 2004, the TV channels conveyed the news of the Congress victory in the Lok Sabha elections and prospects of Sonia Gandhi becoming the PM of the country. Soon after that there was a fierce debate on the propriety of a 'videshi' woman becoming the executive head of the country.

Press Club president Anand Shetty presenting a memento to Sudhir Ghate, as Ravindra Shetty looks on

He also elaborated on the popular blogs on the Internet, which first caught the people's imagination in Korea, where there is the highest Internet penetration. Blogs are getting ever popular with every passing day. They have become the most effect opinion-makers in the world of communication.

Initially, Karnataka had only three centres of media influence, like the coastal area, northern and southwestern, where only a daily each was being regarded as leader. In fact, the entry of Vijaya Karnataka in the arena changed the whole scenario, resulting in all major newspapers vying for excellence and market share.  The printing cost had come to be 10% of what it was a few decades ago. Even the technology had been democratized. There has been a revolution in the printing process. Colour pages are so common in Mumbai and Mangalore, whereas they are not so even in Tamil Nadu and Delhi.

The new-generation newspaper Daily News and Analysis - with the backup of the Zee TV group - published from Mumbai, has innovative plans to introduce scented pages with advertisements for agarbattis (joss-sticks) and perfumes and similar ideas. With such aggressive marketing, today the newspapers were totally dependent on advertisers and ad agencies.

Further, surprisingly, the crime news has been gaining popularity, while other news is getting secondary in importance. Youngsters between 20-25 years of age have their own priorities in news. That is why many newspapers are thinking of going for young editors to feel the pulse of the younger generation.

Ghate made a special mention of daijiworld.com which had given a special dimension to the rapid dissemination of news to the entire world.

An interesting question-and-answer session followed. Earlier, DKDWJU president Ravindra Shetty welcomed the gathering and introduced Ghate. Press Club president Anand Shetty presented a memento to the guest speaker.