Mangalore: A two day national seminar on  ‘Media Ethics and Practices’ organised by the Department of Journalism at Besant Women’s College (BWC), with the co-operation of the  Department of Mass Communication and Journalism  of Mangalore University, was inaugurated at Besant College auditorium in Mangalore on December 13, Thursday.

Famed film sound designer and Oscar award winner Dr Resul Pookutty who was supposed to inaugurate the seminar, though was not present, a pre-recorded video clipping of his inaugural address was presented to the audience at the function.

In his address,  Resul Pookutty said the media was now forced to create news even if there wasn’t one. News has become a big business, he said. The pressure on the media to get exclusive footages of any incident was forcing it to do things which it ought not do, he added.

Noted writer and columnist Shreekumar Varma gave the key note address. He said newspaper houses are governed by corporate bodies as they contribute much advertisement to the media and as a large portion of the revenue of media comes from advertisements alone. However, the media has at times emerged stronger like during the fight against corruption of Anna Hazare.

He exhorted the journalism students by saying they  get  the real education only when they are on field at work.

Manjula KT, Principal of Besant  Women’s College,  spoke on the rights and responsibilities of media. Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy, President of Women’s National Education Society, Dr Waheeda Sultana, Chairman of Department of Mass Communication and Journalism and others were present.