REP: EDUCATION BEAT

Dear Students,

Please work on education beat today. Also, refer to what we had discussed in the class. Add whatever best you can.

All the best.

INTRODUCTION

Education defines the lives of the people living in a community. Education is not limited to the classroom, as it takes place anywhere and everywhere. Holding such a crucial part in lives of the people, education is one of the most important news beats in journalism.

The education beat is a wide umbrella, covering everything from preschool through higher education, and from school funding to learning outcomes. 

With the education beat reporting, the readers get to know the latest on education. The education sector is fast evolving with new innovations and technologies. With the recent happenings in the world, the education beat is there to inform the audience of the recent happenings in the education system so as to adjust or take precautions. This beat also brings to light the excellence and progress of the education sector in a particular community, state or country.

Reporters covering education need to understand the structure, staffing and economics of the school systems they cover, which may vary widely. They should be prepared to decipher statistics and to compare budgets over time to see where the money goes and what happens as a result. Covering education also means tracking statistical data such as dropout and graduation rates, teacher retention and vacancy rates, principal turnover and the results of high-stakes testing. 

Areas covered in education beat:

Following are the areas which are covered in education beat:

•     School board and PTA meetings

•     Voices of schoolchildren, parents, college students etc.

•     Structure, staffing and economics of the school systems and other educational institutions

•     tracking statistical data such as dropout and graduation rates

•     teacher retention and vacancy rates

•     principal turnover and the results of high-stakes testing

•     policy issues like the certification process for teachers or efforts to end social promotion

•     Ranking schools’ performance  considering demographics like race, income or parents’ education.

•     Reporting on cutoffs of the colleges

•     Technologies used in the educational sector

•     Funds allocated the sector

•     Public and private schooling and what is happening in universities and colleges regarding academic activities and developments

•     co-curricular activities, unions are highlighted in the news stories

•      literacy rate and programmes to increase literacy rate

•     adult education

•      Trends in classrooms teaching and dozens of other significant problems can also be reported.

Skills required for the reporters:

Some of the necessary skills for education reporting have remained consistent across decades, even generations. Education journalists have always needed to know how to evaluate schools based on both qualitative and quantitative measures, how to interview children effectively, and how to analyse a budget.

Other skills have emerged and expanded in recent years. It’s increasingly important that education reporters be able to organise and analyse data using spreadsheet programs like Excel, for instance, given that many school districts and states now make data available only in that form.

•      Size up school

Reporters need to be able to assess the quality and nature of a school quickly, but carefully. They must pay attention to whether students are engaged in work, teachers are professional and prepared, and administrators have a motivating and organising effect on the school.

•     Analyse budgets and statistics

At every level of education — school, district, university, state or federal — education journalists must be able to read and decipher budgets, spotting trends, gaps, or aberrations in the intake and outflow of money for schools. They must be comfortable with numbers, as they will frequently be awash in them.

•     Interviewing children

Education reporters must learn how to interview students effectively and with sensitivity.

•      Use technology and social media

Education journalists need to be comfortable telling their stories using multiple platforms. They should also be able to generate story ideas and engage with readers via social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

•     Understand political dynamics

Education reporters need to be skilful in detecting when school politics are in play at the local, state, and federal levels. School board members, teachers’ unions, and administrators all engage in political tugs for control or power. Governors, lawmakers, and mayors sometimes promote specific education policies or changes with broader political goals or ambitions in sight.

•     Know open meetings and public record laws

Education journalists should familiarise themselves with relevant open meetings laws so they will know if — and when — a school board, charter school board, or state board of education might be in violation. They should also know which types of documents and records are available to the public and which ones are not. And they must know how, and when, to file an open records request.

•    Use spreadsheets and database programs

Education journalists must possess at least basic proficiency with spreadsheet and database programs, because state, school district and college data increasingly are available only in spreadsheet form. Reporters will also find that knowledge of these programs enhances their ability to sort, summarise, and analyse education-related data of all types, including test scores.

•     Report and interview on a broad range of subjects

Unlike journalists who perform a very specialised role at a news organisation, such as restaurant or art critics, education journalists must be both specialists and generalists. Most education reporters will find they have to cover a broad range of stories, including politics, business, breaking news, and human interest. They will have to cultivate a wide variety of sources.

Ethics of education beat reporting:

Journalists on all beats routinely face important ethical questions. But that is especially true for education reporters, because their work involves covering children. Some ethical decisions are black and white: Education reporters should never, for instance, interview a young child about a sensitive topic like sexual abuse without the permission and presence of a trusted adult. But many issues are grey areas: Thoughtful journalists might reach different conclusions, and even the most careful, experienced reporters can misread a situation or make a mistake.

The following guidelines aim to help steer journalists through some of the murkier ethical terrain they will undoubtedly encounter when reporting on children, families, and education.

•     Be explicit on the front end

when visiting classrooms and schools, education reporters should try to ensure — whenever practically possible — that employees and students know who they are and the purpose of the visit.

•     Be permissive on the back end

While reporting on young people, journalists and media organisations should be more flexible when it comes to such issues as unnamed sources and the retraction of controversial quotes.

•     Never accept work you would not feel comfortable disclosing publicly

An education journalist might consider doing freelance work for a local foundation uninvolved in school-related causes. But if the foundation advocates on education issues, then the assignment would likely pose a conflict.

•     Weigh carefully the public’s need to know against an individual’s right to privacy

After learning as much about the context as possible, reporters should ask whether there is a broad public interest in exposing the information.

•     Don’t condescend, but err on the side of assuming naivety

Education journalists should assume minors are not familiar with concepts such as on and off-the-record, and do not fully grasp the implications of media exposure. They should explain to children that articles or videos about them can live indefinitely on the Web, reaching readers and viewers they might not have anticipated, including relatives, friends, and strangers.

•     First, do no harm

Journalists should be careful not to add to a child’s trauma or pain when reporting highly sensitive or controversial stories.

•     Verify online information

Education journalists should make sure they do not get sloppy — by copying and pasting information from online sites, or repeating unverified statements made by students online.

SOURCES OF EDUCATION BEAT

•     School newspaper and magazines

•     Colleges

•     Universities

•     Autonomous college and institutions

•     Research papers

•     Education departments

•     Government schools

•     NCERT resource center

•     Students

•     Teachers

•     Parents

•     National education associations

•     Education writers’ association

•     HRD Ministry

•     University grants commission

CONCLUSION

This article provides an overview of the education beat, which is a crucial part of Journalism. The horizon of education reporting is very wide.

These days many reporters are trying to concentrate on Education reporting which focuses on young people. For the reporters, educational stories are easy to cover which includes exam scores, campus stories, and sports. They can also cover the safety regulations of the students or underpaid teachers in an academy. For example, in India, the reporter announces the results of entrance or final results of schools and colleges.

The education system, its merits and demerits are the main sphere of education reporting.

The education reporter is normally expected to cover activities at all levels of the research and schooling system from policy making to the teachers in the classrooms.

The education beat offers the opportunity for many routine stories as well as major news breaks, features and interpretative pieces.

Examples of education beat can be read on the following link:

https://beats.eckovation.com/

https://www.edweek.org/ew/index.html

References:

1. https://newslab.org/beat-reporting-education/

2. https://beats.eckovation.com/

3. https://www.ewa.org/new-education-beat

4. https://www.ewa.org/reporter-guide/standards-ethics-education-reporters#

Himani Jindal

 Department of Journalism LSR, Batch of 2022

(Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal)

REP: ROLE OF CARTOONS IN PRINT MEDIA

"Grown ups’ could learn a lesson from watching cartoons."

                                                                         -James Jean-Pierre

 INTRODUCTION

The original meaning of "cartoon" comes from the Italian “CARTONE " meaning "big paper," and referred to a drawing made on paper as full size study for art work. Cartoon, originally, and still, a full-size sketch or drawing used as a pattern for a tapestry, printing, mosaic, or other graphic art form, but also, since the early 1840s, a pictorial parody utilizing caricature, satire, and usually humour. Cartoons are used today primarily for conveying political commentary and editorial opinion in newspapers and for social comedy and visual wit in magazines.

Cartoons add special value to newspapers. That is why, despite advances in photography and animations technologies, cartoons still command their own place in newspapers. It is a visual medium that engages the audience and helps them understand and interpret the political, social and economic scene in the country and the world. The political cartoons lately have gained much importance and have a raised standing in a newspaper.


CHARACTERISTICS OF CARTOON

    • Symbolism: Cartoonists use simple objects, or symbols, to stand for larger concepts or ideas. After you identify the symbols in a cartoon, think about what the cartoonist intends each symbol to stand for. Symbolism is important even when people are unsure of how they feel and are unable to decide on the cognitive perspective of their take on issues; studies have indicated a certain level of emotional response to the issue at hand.

    • Exaggeration: Sometimes cartoonists overdo, or exaggerate, the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point. If we study a cartoon in detail, any characteristics is always overdone or overblown. (Facial characteristics and clothing are some of the most commonly exaggerated characteristics.) Cartoonists use exaggerations in size, emotions, and shape of a person or object for effectiveness.

    • Labeling: Cartoonists often label objects or people to make it clear exactly what they stand for. Cartoonist execute the different labels the particular person or object which appear in a cartoon.

    • Analogy: An analogy is a comparison between two unlike things that share some characteristics. By comparing a complex issue or situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists can help their readers see it in a different light.

    • Irony: Irony is the difference between the way things are and the way things should be, or the way things are expected to be. Cartoonists often use irony to express their opinion on an issue. When one look at a cartoon, one can find any irony in the situation the cartoon depicts.

    • Stereotypes and Caricature: Stereotyping is common in cartoons, in a stereotype that the cartoonist tries and explains and simplifies a largely applicable point of view. It promotes a point of view. For example, all cricket matches are fixed. Although offensive it makes a strong point which can be debated upon, it opens grounds for discussion.


TYPES OF CARTOON

   • Pocket cartoon 

It is a single-column cartoon having a fixed place on the first page of newspapers. Pocket cartoons deal with something related to the life of common people. They may be compassionate, humorous, or satirical.

• Political cartoon

It is also known as an editorial cartoon, which deals with contemporary political developments or events. Political cartoons are traditionally three-column cartoons. Political cartoons usually serve as a visual commentary on current events.

Comic Strip cartoon
Comic Strip Cartoons have more than one panel. They usually are a series of humorous drawings put together to make a funny plot. The last panel usually has the punch line. 

  • Gag Cartoons

Gag Cartoons usually consist of just one panel. This one panel shows the humour in, or makes fun of a certain group of people, rather than just a single person. Gag cartoons are usually found on greeting cards or magazines.


RELEVANCE OF CARTOON IN PRINT MEDIA & SOCIETY

In India, political cartoons were used to propagate ideas and change. The vernacular press and political cartoons became mediums to convey change and information. Many freedom fighters used this platform to convey their thoughts, not just for freedom, post freedom struggle as well.

Political cartoons adorn a small part of a newspaper often in a corner but it has a huge impact on the readers. A cartoon conveys a lot of information in very few words. The emotions behind the political cartoons are genuine and although harsh, are taken with a sense of humour.

Cartoons help the readers to understand the mood of the country. They help us to understand the social, political, cultural, economic aspects of the country.

Cartoons being simple, attractive, funny attracts the children as well as the grown up 's. Thus, leaving long lasting impact on readers.

Cartoons break the monotony & present irony through sketched & boosts emotions through visualization.

Cartoons helps to put out opinions. For example: The caricature of Indira with sharp nose during emergency. The visual metaphors help us to understand things in a better manner.

Cartoons help the journalist & cartoonists to wisely present & comment on issues which are restricted by government

The editorial column catches the attention of policy makers where cartoonists present public opinion through sketches.

Cartoons amuse as well as persuade. They encourage opinion formation and decision making of reader.

In the print media, cartoons equally assist in providing a clear mental picture, speed, understanding, help memory and provide a shared experience.

" Cartoons are a reflection of society and provide for a point of view to the people reading it. Cartoon are considered as harmless, while in reality they can unleash a revolution."

DECLINE IN CHANGING ROLE OF CARTOONS

The cartoonist’s lifeblood had been quieted by taboo-conscious editors who bent “over backwards” to avoid offending readers, publishers, and advertisers.

Cartoonists have been silenced by fearful by “fearful editors” who avoid race, religion, corporate power, and other subjects that might offend.

At the same time, they’ve been smothered by a play-nice media that “bends over backwards—and sometimes just bends over—to appease conservatives.

Faced with declining advertising revenues and evaporating print audiences, newspapers increasingly opt to buy cartoons through syndication

A full accounting of what is lost with the dwindling number of staff cartoonists is difficult to measure.

It’s undeniable that editorial cartooning, even more than journalism as a whole, is in crisis. A 2012 report by the Herblock Foundation found that there were fewer than 40 editorial cartoonists with newspaper-staff jobs in America, a steep decline from more than 2,000 such positions in the beginning of the 20th century.


CONTROVERSIAL CARTOONS AND ACTION AGAINST THEM

Speaking on the side line of the awards ceremony of the 11th Maya Kamath Memorial Awards competition 2018 organised by the Indian Institute of Cartoonists, artists pointed out many things which are as follows:

Being political cartoonist today, we feel like we are wasting our time. There are limitations to expressing truth & sometimes you need the approval of the government.

If the government does not take action against such political cartoons, people on social media makes sure that they take offence.

"In West Bengal, I've seen cartoonist being jailed. A professor was imprisoned for even sharing a cartoon, which was against the ruling government in the state. What I can gather is that political cartoonists are no longer given the freedom to express the truth, "said Suprabho Roy,22, who won the prize for budding cartoonists at the event.

Sedition Charges Against Aseem Trivedi

When cartoonist Aseem Trivedi was displaying cartoons during the Anti-corruption Movement in November 2011, little did he know that his work would be tagged as seditious. In September 2012, the cartoonist was charged with sedition under Section 124 (A) of the Indian Penal Code. One of his cartoons reportedly depicted the Parliament as a commode and showed the National Emblem with wolves and not lions. That was his way of satirizing unabated corruption in India.

Later, He was announced as the 2012 recipient of the "Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award" of Virginia based Cartoonists Rights Network International. He shared the award with Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat. He was also nominated for the Freedom of Expression Awards 2013 by London based free speech organization Index on Censorship. Winners of Freedom of Expression Awards 2017(organized by Index on Censorship) were presented with the cartoons created by Aseem Trivedi.

RK Laxman’s Cartoon Removed from NCERT Textbooks

Eminent cartoonist, RK Laxman, who was known for taking a dig at politicians who forget their promises, had to face the ire of the people and his cartoons were deleted from the NCERT textbooks for Political and Social Science. The legendary humourist had created a cartoon showing a beggar holding a bowl before a garlanded Indira Gandhi. The panel, which was constituted by the government, identified it as an “educationally inappropriate material” and said that the cartoon should be deleted as it showed politicians and bureaucrats in “an incorrect way”.

CONCLUSION

This review provides an overview of political cartoons in print media. The impact of cartoons is widespread on our lives and how we use them in our conversation, in our dealings even in beliefs we have. Cartoons have over the years helped establish and sustain our attention to political satire and look at the lighter side of things without reducing it to a laughing matter.

Cartoons as an art form are definitely staying on the front pages and editorial pages of newspapers. As we all know that political cartoons are an important part in any newspaper. Political cartoons adorn a small part of a newspaper often in a corner but it has a huge impact on the readers. A cartoon conveys a lot of information in very few words. The emotions behind the political cartoons are genuine and although harsh are taken with a sense of humour.

We can also see that India has a number of famous cartoonists who have contributed a lot in the field of cartoon. However, this research aims at highlighting the role of cartoons in the newspapers. Editorial pages although important, have a low readership, cartoons however have not just a fan following but have a high recall value which keeps issues alive.

REFERENCES

"DNA India." 18 Nov 2011. DNA INDIA website. 19 Nov 2011

CNN IBN (2011). Six decades of RK Laxman and his 'Common Man'. NA, 25 Nov 2011.

http://www.curatormagazine.com/christytennant/never-underestimate-the-power-of-cartoons/

https://www.artistize.com/Blogs/famous-cartoonists-of-india

https://www.herbblockfoundation.org/sites/default/files/hbf2011whitepaper_f1.pdf

Impact of Cartoons on Newspaper Readers (A case study of Osun State Polytechnic, Community).

Political Cartoons: Now you see them. Rhonda Walker. Canadian Parliamentary Review; Spring 2003

Ritu Gairola Khanduri (2014). Caricaturing Culture in India: Cartoons and History of the Modern World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

The Hindu. Cartoons add value to newspaper. NOVEMBER 16, 2015

Virginia edu. "A Brief History of Political Cartoons." NA NA NA. Virginia Edu. July 23 2011.

https://askopinion.com/do-you-love-daily-cartoons-in-newspapers Laxman, R. K. (1998). The tunnel of time. India: Penguin Books.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/double-the-compensation-of-jadavpur-professor-arrested-for-circulating-mamata-cartoons-court-tells-g-745593

https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/social-issues/controversial-cartoons-in-india-and-public-outrage#

https://www.freepressjournal.in/cmcm/7-cartoons-that-created-controversies


Surbhi Gupta, Department of Journalism, LSR, Batch of 2022

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal

REP: COLUMNS AND COLUMNISTS

Dear Sudents,

I would suggest to also add a reference of some of the popular columnists to  make it more relevant.

We can also think of adding the impact of such columns on the audience/ reader.

Think over it!!!

A column is a regular piece or an article in a newspaper, magazine or any publication. Sometimes it is published daily or it appears weekly. This piece of writing contains the writer's opinion or point of view. A spot is allocated to the writer in the editorial page and often it is also named 'Opinion' where his or her write-up containing his or her opinions or views on a particular topic or subject appears. The column endows the writer with an opportunity to give his or her opinion freely.

 A column is a voice or a viewpoint of a columnist not the newspaper and it is generally written using first person singular or third person singular. It speaks about the hot issues in society or politics or even displays the experiences of the writer about a specific subject. The reader is free to agree or disagree with the opinions of the columnist. The columnists can make or break anything. Most of the time, their experiences go in a right direction and their sources bring up the correct information, which reveals the hidden facts.

Major types of columns can be divided in to the following:-

a) Reporting in depth column

a. To this type of column – background, perspective and interpretation are given to various happenings, usually presented in hard news.

b) Opinionated columns

a. The columnists, either because of extensive training or long-time observation set themselves up as experts and then expound their opinions for the general public. The self- opinionated experts try to compensate in the heat for what they cannot provide in the light.

c) Gossip columns

a. One whole field of column writing is built on these characteristics, because almost everyone likes a bit of gossip. The column contains little except its titillating value; this need not be writer’s exclusive domain.

d) Humorous columns

a. In this type the columnist tries to find the humorous aspect in life and write an article that will amuse readers. Sometimes these columns spotlight an event more clearly than thousand words of expounding and explaining.

Columnist, the author or editor of a regular signed contribution to a newspaper, magazine, or Web site, usually under a permanent title and devoted to comment on some aspect of the contemporary scene. Essentially a column is a reflection of the writer’s individual tastes and point of view.

The word columnist is of relatively recent origin, apparently dating to about 1920, but columns themselves came earlier. Today, development of the Internet greatly expanded the reach of individual columnists to a global audience.

The columnist’s subject matter is frequently short- term in interest and may appeal to a limited geographic area as well but at its best it fulfils an important educational function—and it is often a favourite feature with readers of the publication in which it appears.

Researched by-

Ishhva Praveen

Journalism Hons

2019-2022

References –

1. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336020403_Column_-_What's_It_All_About_and_Its_Role_in_Journalism

2. Naveed, F. (2019, November 9). COLUMN, Definition, Types of Column & Writing Column. Retrieved April 11, 2020, from https://www.masscommunicationtalk.com/column-definition-types-of-column-writing-column.html

3. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2016, October 25). Columnist. Retrieved April 11, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/columnist

Ishhva Praveen

Department of Journalism, LSR, Batch of 2022

Disclaimer: Shared in the interest of the student community during Covid-19. Views expressed are personal. 

REP: Difference Between Articles And Features

Due to Covid-19 outbreak, sudents of journalism are discussing their topics on this plaform.
Dear Students,
I agree with most of the suggestions that you have made. I would like to add that we can also look at some of the stories linked to Corona as well to explain it further- specially features with a humanitarian angle.
Also, in this section- Language- Feature articles can be about anything.
We should write that feature articles can pick up varied issues. They are beyond restrictive boundaries and are open for experimentation.

There are several important differences between feature articles and traditional news articles. A journalist should know how to always approach different events with a different writing approach. This skill requires a basic understanding of the technicalities that separate these writing styles. The variables that play a decisive role in this are timing, relevance and readership preferences. In this article, we will be discussing their definitions and distinctions.

An article is brief write up that reports on a current event, which as per the media standards is of contemporary importance. It could be about local news, business event, a current public concern, a road accident or some mishap and so on. It is usually filed in by a reporter or correspondent working with the media house.

The feature, on the other hand is a more elaborate report, that besides having a core story, also calls for a fair amount of detailed reporting. By virtue of that features are longish in nature compared to an article. To illustrate, if there is lot of illegal sand mining in a region, it would call for a lot of investigation, and details. Similarly, it can be a topic from any genre. Features are usually filed in by more experienced journalists.
Here are the critical differences between a feature story and a news article-

1. Timing-

The major difference between a news article and a feature story is that a news article is time-sensitive and of immediate interest. The election results, an accident, a robbery report, a product launch, a court verdict, a medical report release, a set of basketball game scores are examples of a news article. Media outlets want to publish news stories as quickly as possible after an event occurs. Feature stories, however, are not as time-dependent and contain no urgent content. You can write one anytime after an event occurs. Its content is often evergreen or at least lasting.

      2.     Style-

    The writing styles of a news story and a feature are different. In a news story, the emphasis is on content rather than form. News articles go straight to the point, using simple and effective words to deliver the facts quickly. Feature stories are often more wordy and they have a creative structure. News articles answer who, what, when, where, why and how. This means that the article answers the question: What happened, when the event occurred, where the event happened, why the event happened, how the event occurred, and who was involved. A feature article is a human interest story about a person, event, or place. Rather than simply summarizing the subject, a feature article highlights one aspect or significance of the story. Its less formal style may take an odd twist or heartwarming angle. The feature article focuses on particular people, places, and events.

    3.     Beginning and ending-

A news article and a feature story have different types of beginnings and endings. News articles tell what the news is upfront and then give the most important details in the first paragraph or two. The beginning – or lead – of a feature story, on the other hand, doesn’t give the news straightaway. Instead, it hooks readers and keeps them reading until the end. A news article can end anywhere after you’ve described the most important facts, whereas a feature story ends with readers feeling satisfied that they gained some value from reading the story.

    4.    Language-

Feature articles can be about anything. They can have a narrower target audience than newspaper articles. Feature articles are often emotive and subjective. They can entertain and persuade as well as inform. They can go beyond the information provided by newspaper articles and take on a particular side. Feature articles don't go out of date as quickly as most newspaper articles. Newspaper articles serve the purpose of informing the audience of a particular event or issue. Yes, the language is often formal, simple and factual.

    5. Content-

    A newspaper article is where you discuss about what happened and what people said and then you add a conclusion, while a feature article has a cover story and then follows on in the magazine. It has quotes and endures picture and a big heading, so get artistic and make it flashy and noticeable. A news reporter lays out the facts of what happened and sometimes includes reactions from affected parties.
     The feature writer is more forensic in nature. They probe deeper, spending more time on the 'how' and 'why' of what happened. If they fail to go beyond the facts reported in news (and sometimes this is very difficult) they probably haven't succeeded and probably won't be published.

    6.    Length-

    News articles are short, averaging 100-400 words depending upon the type of news and where it is placed in the publication. They are meant to be digested quickly. Feature stories are longer and dig more deeply into the topic. Length varies for each publication, but a typical feature word count runs between 1,000 – 2,000 words.

     7.     Structure-

A news story is structured in the inverted pyramid format with key facts at the beginning of the article. This way the reader can get basic information in the first sentence or two. A feature story allows the subject matter to determine its format, whether in a standard outline form (such as a list, sequence, or comparison) or one of the other main story formats. As for subject matter, features cover endless topics from profiles to narratives, interviews, essays, exposes, how-to's, columns, and reviews.

Notes: 

Example of an article - Legal action likely for dumping garbage in waterways

Example of a feature https://scroll.in/article/815140/why-sand-mining-in-tamil-nadu-is-unstoppable-even-though-its-destructive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m42-o34TlNY – A video explaining the topic.

     References:

1. http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/article-writing-tips.html

2. https://www.axiapr.com/blog/3-crucial-differences-between-a-news-story-and-a-feature-story-that-will-make-you-a-better-writer

3. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-feature-and-an-article-in-journalism

- Anushree Mukherjee

Department of JournalismLSR, Batch of 2022

    Disclaimer: Shared in the interest of the student community during Covid-19. Views expressed are personal.

कोरोना के बीच जेल को चिट्ठी

 कोरोना वायरस से लड़ने के लिए जेल के कैदियों के काम की सराहना करते हुए देश की जेल सुधारक वर्तिका नन्दा ने जेल के बंदियों और जेल स्टाफ के वीडियो शेयर किए.

कोरोना के चलते जब पूरा देश लॉकडाउन में है, देश की जेलें अपना योगदान दे रही हैं. मास्क, सेनिटाइजर, किट से लेकर आसोलेशन वार्ड तक बनाने में जेलों के कैदी जुटे हैं. उनके इस योगदान की सराहना करते हुए देश की जेल सुधारक वर्तिका नन्दा ने जेल के बंदियों और जेल स्टाफ के वीडियो से एक सौगात भेजी है. इसका नाम है- जेल के नाम चिट्ठी. करीब ढाई मिनट के इस वीडियो में बंदियों और स्टाफ का मनोबल बढाया गया है और उन्हें राष्ट्र-निर्माण से जुड़े रहने के लिए प्रेरित किया गया है.

वीडियो में इस बात पर खास तौर से जोर दिया गया है कि लॉक डाउन की वजह से पहली बार लोगों को जेल जैसी जिंदगी का अहसास हुआ है जबकि जेल की परिस्थितियां इससे कहीं ज्यादा विकट हैं. वीडियो में कहा गया है कि - इस समय आप और बाहर के लोगों में कोई ज्यादा फर्क नहीं है. ऐसा पहली बार हुआ है जब बाहर के कई लोग खुद को जेल के बंदी जैसा ही महसूस करने लगे हैं. इससे यह उम्मीद भी की जा सकती है कि उन्हें आपकी तकलीफ का अंदाजा होगा.

देश की 1,339 जेलों में करीब 4,66,084 कैदी बंद हैं. नेशनल क्राइम रिकॉर्ड्स ब्यूरो के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक, देश की जेलों में औसतन क्षमता से 117.6 फीसदी ज्यादा बंदी हैं. उत्तर प्रदेश और सिक्किम जैसे राज्यों में यह दर क्रमश: 176.5 फीसदी और 157.3 फीसदी है. यानी भारतीय जेलें अपनी क्षमता से कहीं ज्यादा भीड़ से लबालब हैं. कोरोना के संकट के बीच सुप्रीम कोर्ट को एक बार फिर राज्यों और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों को इस समस्या की याद दिलानी पड़ी है. यही वजह है कि पिछले दो हफ्तों में देश की जेलों से बड़ी संख्या में रिहाई हुई है.

लेकिन संकट के इस दौर में तिहाड़ से मध्य प्रदेश, उत्तर प्रदेश, राजस्थान और केरल समेत कई राज्यों ने बाहर की दुनिया को कोरोना से बचाने के लिए सराहनीय काम किया है. य़ह वीडियो जेल के इन्हीं मददगार बंदियों के नाम है.

जेल के नाम चिट्ठी

बीते कई दिन उन सभी के लिए बहुत मुश्किल के थे जिन्होंने न जेल देखी, न समझी. कोरोना के इस लॉकडाउन के चलते बहुत से लोगों ने अपनी जिंदगी की तुलना तक जेल से कर डाली है. लेकिन इस सच को सिर्फ आप जानते हैं. कोरोना ने यह सबक भी दिया है कि जिंदगी को जानने के लिए बहत दूर तक जाने की जरूरत नहीं है. जिंदगी के बड़े सच हमारे अपने दायरे में ही हैं. दुमिया का एक बड़ा हिस्सा अब बंदिशों की जेल में है. बाहर जाना, घूमना, मिलना, सब बंद है. इन बंदिशों के बीच समाज के बहुत से लोगों को अब जब जेल से तुलना करने का ख्याल आया है, आपको इस बात को नहीं भूलना है कि आप जिन भी परिस्थितियों में यहां पर आएं हों, आपको अपने समय का सम्मान करना ही होगा. महात्मा गांधी से लेकर अरबिंदो तक- कई बड़े चिंतक इन्हीं जेलों से निखऱ कर बाहर आए और उन्होंने पूरी दुनिया में बदलाव की अलख जगा दी. आपको भी अपने अंदर की अलख को जगाना है.

इस समय आप और बाहर के लोगों में कोई ज्यादा फर्क नहीं है. ऐसा पहली बार हुआ है जब बाहर के कई लोग खुद को जेल के बंदी जैसा ही महसूस करने लगे हैं. इससे यह उम्मीद भी की जा सकती है कि उन्हें आपकी तकलीफ का अंदाजा होगा. बाकी जेलों की तरह आपकी जेल से भी कोरोना के चलते कई बंदी रिहा किए गए हैं. आप भी कभी न कभी रिहा होंगे. प्रशासन आपकी देखभाल की कोशिश कर रहा है लेकिन इस बीच आपको इस बात को बार-बार जहन में रखना है कि आप जेल के किसी भी दिन को ज़ाया नहीं करेंगे. आप कुछ सीखेंगे, सृजन करेंगे.

इस साल तिनका तिनका अवार्ड में एक श्रेणी उन बंदियों के नाम भी रहेगी जिन्होंने संकट के इस समय में राष्ट्र-निर्माण में अपना योगदान दिया है. आप भी इसका हिस्सा बनिए. संभव हो तो इस दौर पर आप जो भी अखबारों में पढ़ रहे हैं य टीवी पर देख रहे हैं, उस पर एक डायरी लिख दीजिए या फिर कोई पेंटिंग बनाइए या दीवारों को किसी उम्मीद से रौशन कर दीजिए. यह आप पर है कि आप अपने अंदर के कलाकार को कैसे जिंदा रखते हैं. बस, जो भी कीजिए, उसमें आपकी भी बेहतरी हो और समाज की भी.

डॉ. वर्तिका नन्दा जेल सुधारक और तिनका तिनका अभियान की संस्थापक हैं जिसका मकसद जेलों को आपस में जोड़ना और बंदियों की प्रतिभा को सामने लाते हुए जेल सुधार पर काम करना है. उनके बनाए तिनका तिनका मॉडल के तहत 2019 में ‘‘आगरा जेल रेडियो’’ की शुरुआत की गई थी जो कि कोरोना के समय बंदियों का सबसे बड़ा सहारा बन गया है. मुलाकातें बंद होने की वजह से जेल का रेडियो बंदियों के संवाद की जरूरतें पूरी कर रहा है. इस रेडियो स्टेशन का उद्घाटन जुलाई 2019 में आगरा जिला जेल के अधीक्षक शशिकांत मिश्रा और तत्कालीन पुलिस अधीक्षक बबलू कुमार ने किया था. डॉ. नन्दा के मताबिक यह प्रयास जेलों की स्थिति पर हो रहे उनके एक विशेष शोध का भी एक हिस्सा हैं.



https://hindi.news18.com/news/nation/opinion-prison-inmates-doing-work-for-fight-coronavirus-2996704.html

Courtesy:https://hindi.news18.com/news/nation/opinion-prison-inmates-doing-work-for-fight-coronavirus-2996704.html


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