Post by Thoithoi O'Cottage on Jan 25, 2014 19:08:03 GMT 5.5
Kakching is a very small town with a population of 30,418 according to the 2011 India Census. Any significantly important studies or discussions which may have at least some shaping influence on any official/state policy- and plan-making avoids (not implausibly) referring to and taking into account of the fact that Kakching has a solitary tendency, which actually affects its social dynamics in the state context. This is not without historical reasons. I believe it was one of the factors (but not the only factor) that prompted some of our elders to start some Kakching local newspapers, though the dream did not materialize. But, it’s still important to (informally) recognize (but without encouraging) the existence of this phenomenon.
As every systematic modern town has its authorities looking after the town’s affairs (we also have our Kakching Municipal Council), as every densely populated modern town tends to have its own newspapers (where the population volume makes towns media financially feasible), Kakching (neither encouraging nor being encouraged by any “solitary mentality”) can also have its own small media system to address its specific issues, without closing its doors and windows to the world. No community can isolate itself from the rest of the world now. It’s impossible, and any attempt at this is harmful.) In fact Kakching’s spectacular population growth, the town’s strategic commercial location, added to its people’s productivity have cumulatively made it the most important town after Imphal, with several many villages and towns around increasingly becoming dependent of it, or rather becoming part of its market community. This all has made it more significant for Kakching to have a kind of micro media to address the small pool or system with the town as a hub. Being a small town, printed daily newspaper will not be financially feasible. Online newspapers will surely be easier, but I doubt any online media organization will be able to make online journalism a profession, and without it being a profession nothing can provide quality service regularly and constantly. However, any contribution is really helpful, despite irregularity in service and fluctuation in quality.
Social networking media such as Facebook are very much essential. These are even more appropriate for Kakching considering that nobody in particular has to be responsible for collecting material/information/opinion and distributing/broadcasting it to the target people. With social networking media there, everybody has become a broadcaster and receiver simultaneously, and with increasing number of people participating in community discussions hosted by such social media service provider as Facebook, news has been for the first time in history able to float free and circulate without nobody dedicating his/her life to doing it, as was the case earlier.
Considering this, it’s very appropriate that the people of Kakching avail themselves of this advantage provided by social media, especially Facebook, to fill the notorious gap of media’s absence.
A small “functional”, “sensitive” local TV channel is very much appropriate and essential for Kakching. Image TV has been occupying this very important space, though it has yet to come of age. The small community’s activities should be coverable by the channel without much difficulty. It can do a lot at least for the town and the villages around if the broadcasters plan their programs more thoughtfully.
No one single media platform can cater to all areas of a community as active as Kakching. All media platforms available to us should take part in the social discourse on their own in their own ways, and this should surely result cumulatively in something perceptible in an unprecedented way. The effect will be visible in the people’s increasing self-awareness, which is an essential element in the building of what Habermas terms “public sphere”.
As every systematic modern town has its authorities looking after the town’s affairs (we also have our Kakching Municipal Council), as every densely populated modern town tends to have its own newspapers (where the population volume makes towns media financially feasible), Kakching (neither encouraging nor being encouraged by any “solitary mentality”) can also have its own small media system to address its specific issues, without closing its doors and windows to the world. No community can isolate itself from the rest of the world now. It’s impossible, and any attempt at this is harmful.) In fact Kakching’s spectacular population growth, the town’s strategic commercial location, added to its people’s productivity have cumulatively made it the most important town after Imphal, with several many villages and towns around increasingly becoming dependent of it, or rather becoming part of its market community. This all has made it more significant for Kakching to have a kind of micro media to address the small pool or system with the town as a hub. Being a small town, printed daily newspaper will not be financially feasible. Online newspapers will surely be easier, but I doubt any online media organization will be able to make online journalism a profession, and without it being a profession nothing can provide quality service regularly and constantly. However, any contribution is really helpful, despite irregularity in service and fluctuation in quality.
Social networking media such as Facebook are very much essential. These are even more appropriate for Kakching considering that nobody in particular has to be responsible for collecting material/information/opinion and distributing/broadcasting it to the target people. With social networking media there, everybody has become a broadcaster and receiver simultaneously, and with increasing number of people participating in community discussions hosted by such social media service provider as Facebook, news has been for the first time in history able to float free and circulate without nobody dedicating his/her life to doing it, as was the case earlier.
Considering this, it’s very appropriate that the people of Kakching avail themselves of this advantage provided by social media, especially Facebook, to fill the notorious gap of media’s absence.
A small “functional”, “sensitive” local TV channel is very much appropriate and essential for Kakching. Image TV has been occupying this very important space, though it has yet to come of age. The small community’s activities should be coverable by the channel without much difficulty. It can do a lot at least for the town and the villages around if the broadcasters plan their programs more thoughtfully.
No one single media platform can cater to all areas of a community as active as Kakching. All media platforms available to us should take part in the social discourse on their own in their own ways, and this should surely result cumulatively in something perceptible in an unprecedented way. The effect will be visible in the people’s increasing self-awareness, which is an essential element in the building of what Habermas terms “public sphere”.
