Present status of media in Odisha can be summed up in one sentence, with apology to
Charles Dickens (A Tale of Two Cities): ‘It is the best of the times; it is the worst of
the times’.
Looking from the reach, access and use the mood of media in Odisha is buoyant. In
fact, news media in Odisha never had it so good. Odia Newspaper readership is
growing at one of the fastest rate in India. There has been both horizontal and vertical
growth. National Readership Survey (NRS) 2006 figures for Odia media reveal that
the total readership has crossed 1 crore. Three leading papers: Sambad, Samaja and
Dharitri together have close to 55-lakh readerships. Sambad leads the readership with
20.39 lakh readership followed by Samaja (18.97 lakh) and Dharitri (14.45 lakh)
[Source: NRS-2005/v-3.00, NRS- 2006/V-1.00. Readership in lakh]. Number of
newspapers and periodicals has increased substantially. At the end of 1964 there were
70 papers published in Odia language (four dailies, nine weeklies, 38 monthlies and
19 other periodicals). By end 2010 there were as many as 52 dailies approved by the
I&PR Department of Odisha. Major newspapers of Odisha are on expansion spree.
Almost all the major newspapers are publishing multiple and muti-location editions.
New TV Channels are coming up. In 2009 as many as four 24x7 Odia satellite
channels made their entry. Existing ones like Doordarshan, E-TV (Odia) and O-TV
are beefing up their programmes. Net penetration, access and use are increasing.
Number of web-based publications is also growing. Mobile phones are almost
ubiquitous in all parts of Odisha. Media houses are embracing state of the art
technology. Convergence of technology is fuelling diversification in existing media
houses. Technology, increasing literacy and readership, greater competition and
aggressive marketing are transforming the media scene in Odisha from placid
monochromatic frame to a hyperactive, techni-colour one at a rate never seen before.
It is best of the times.
But looking from other angles — the quality of journalism, the issues being covered,
the impact, financial status of the journalists, their safety and security, ethics, press
freedom — the situation does not look rosy. Many believe it has deteriorated in
comparison to say twenty years before. With media becoming more capital intensive
and market oriented — the diverse voice is finding it increasingly difficult to survive.
Serious issues are not finding their due space/time. News is being commoditized.
Sensationalism is rampant. Trivialization is increasingly being accepted as the rule.
With media ownership becoming increasingly monopolized, press freedom is in
danger from within. Journalists are more insecure now. They face double insecurity
— insecurity arising from the intimidation of outside forces irked by his/her report
and job insecurity. More and more journalists are hired on contract now. Scarcity of
job forces many to accept the contract on the owner’s term. Envelope journalism
(money for news) is rampant. Corruption, many veteran journalists say, has reached
new low. It is the worst of the times.
Charles Dickens (A Tale of Two Cities): ‘It is the best of the times; it is the worst of
the times’.
Looking from the reach, access and use the mood of media in Odisha is buoyant. In
fact, news media in Odisha never had it so good. Odia Newspaper readership is
growing at one of the fastest rate in India. There has been both horizontal and vertical
growth. National Readership Survey (NRS) 2006 figures for Odia media reveal that
the total readership has crossed 1 crore. Three leading papers: Sambad, Samaja and
Dharitri together have close to 55-lakh readerships. Sambad leads the readership with
20.39 lakh readership followed by Samaja (18.97 lakh) and Dharitri (14.45 lakh)
[Source: NRS-2005/v-3.00, NRS- 2006/V-1.00. Readership in lakh]. Number of
newspapers and periodicals has increased substantially. At the end of 1964 there were
70 papers published in Odia language (four dailies, nine weeklies, 38 monthlies and
19 other periodicals). By end 2010 there were as many as 52 dailies approved by the
I&PR Department of Odisha. Major newspapers of Odisha are on expansion spree.
Almost all the major newspapers are publishing multiple and muti-location editions.
New TV Channels are coming up. In 2009 as many as four 24x7 Odia satellite
channels made their entry. Existing ones like Doordarshan, E-TV (Odia) and O-TV
are beefing up their programmes. Net penetration, access and use are increasing.
Number of web-based publications is also growing. Mobile phones are almost
ubiquitous in all parts of Odisha. Media houses are embracing state of the art
technology. Convergence of technology is fuelling diversification in existing media
houses. Technology, increasing literacy and readership, greater competition and
aggressive marketing are transforming the media scene in Odisha from placid
monochromatic frame to a hyperactive, techni-colour one at a rate never seen before.
It is best of the times.
But looking from other angles — the quality of journalism, the issues being covered,
the impact, financial status of the journalists, their safety and security, ethics, press
freedom — the situation does not look rosy. Many believe it has deteriorated in
comparison to say twenty years before. With media becoming more capital intensive
and market oriented — the diverse voice is finding it increasingly difficult to survive.
Serious issues are not finding their due space/time. News is being commoditized.
Sensationalism is rampant. Trivialization is increasingly being accepted as the rule.
With media ownership becoming increasingly monopolized, press freedom is in
danger from within. Journalists are more insecure now. They face double insecurity
— insecurity arising from the intimidation of outside forces irked by his/her report
and job insecurity. More and more journalists are hired on contract now. Scarcity of
job forces many to accept the contract on the owner’s term. Envelope journalism
(money for news) is rampant. Corruption, many veteran journalists say, has reached
new low. It is the worst of the times.
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