(October 2006)
Journalists Raise Questions about the Credibility of Gulf Media Awards.....
Some of the well known and not so well known journalists in the Gulf seem to be addicted to getting more honours and awards. Recently, a leading Malayalam TV journalist was "proudly" listing the long list of media awards that he got from various "sources."
Receiving an award may boost the recipients personal ego and add to his celebrity status. However, for journalists who value the integrity of the profession, he or he should check the credentials of such awards and their sponsors! A close scrutiny of many of such media awards prove that a few journalists in Dubai are going out of their way to grab these titles. Even if the hands giving out such awards are sometimes too dirty and stinking, senior editor(s) too bend their shoulder to receive such illusions of honours .
"The latest media award announced in the Gulf is handed over by the head of a company which treated its Malayali labourers like slaves. Journalists who project themselves as champions of these worker cause, should not have received such awards ," said one journalist who is irritated by the involvement of Indian Media Forum, the representative body of journalists in such programmes. "A senior editor with 30 years experience in journalism should be a role model for budding journalist. ," added another irritated journalist. "It is a shame that reputed journalists go out of their way to "arrange" award from people who used even goons to manhandle their own employees," added another source.
"Gulf Round Up is supposed to be programmes covering the average Gulf Malayalis problems, but the journalists behind these programme have become more addicted to awards ..
Kerala Monitor has been projecting Gulf Round Up as a heroic piece of journalism..Now you should write that the the Round Up camera is deviating too much from the main targets," he added. "For commercial journalists, it is part of the game, but the real ones should be careful not to get in the trap ," he added.
"Come on guys..these chaps should grow up...When money exchange companies cheat thousands of ordinary NRKs remitting money to their home by manipulating the exchange rate, jounalists who are supposed to expose such cheating are receiving awards sponsored by the same people. Even some of the associations give credibility to these cheats by involving them in the award functions," added another source.
"Every day Indian Rs 37 crores is remitted through one exchange house. By manipulating the rates, they make millions. Throwing out a small part of this booty is enough to silence the media. For them sponsoring an award is not a big deal. It is like giving a small bribe to facilitate a major financial scam," added the source.
"A leading jewellery chain in Dubai was recently in the news for framing false case against two employees. The jewellery owner was irritated because one of the staff went to the labour court for some problem. He fabricated a case saying two kilograms of gold and huge cash was missing from the showroom. Both the public prosecution and appeal courts rejected the case. For award winning journalists such stories never find a slot in their channels or newspapers...
