By Subhas Chandra Pattanayak
http://orissamatters.com/2010/07/31/2773-prasanta-in-sidha-katha/

Eminent Journalist Prasanta Patnaik participating in ETv’s popular program, Sidha Katha (Straight Conversation) telecasted last night and repeated today noon, told interviewer Deba Prasad Das that corporate culture has taken the toll of media credibility as the thirst for advertisements has been forcing major mass media organizations to vet straight reports to the detriment of journalistic ethics.

Patnaik, who had relinquished the post of lecturer in English on the very day of his joining P.N.College (now autonomous) at Khurda to join Amrit Bazar Patrika, said, he had joined Journalism as that was a mission to him. Evolution of corporate economy has corrupted that mission to a profession where money is more propelling than cause of the society.

Responding to Das suggestion on Jaundiced journalism, he said, the phenomenon is more discernible at present because whosoever adopts that way of life becomes conspicuous with worldly comfort overnight. Yet, instances are rampant that notwithstanding how hard be real life, journalists are there that are addicted to ethics of journalism, principle and probity.

Recalling the devastations that the super cyclone 1999 had caused, he said, he had lost his professional detached stance while capturing the horrific pictures, which he will remember for ever as the worst of event covered so far when the occasion of giving a lift to Biju Patnaik in his scooter to the secretariat would continue as a pleasant memory. Biju had tried to show himself as a Chief Minister full of concern for the people and to show his oneness with them, he had, on his second innings, tried to come to the secretariat by riding over a bicycle. After a few pedals he fumbled and as Prasanta, by then the most active photo journalist in Bhubaneswar, was following him in his scooter, he asked him to take the lift. Prasanta said, he yet enjoys the event while dwelling in the memory lane.

Das wanted him to say of his stories. “I depict deeply known persons as I have studied them in my stories; but to my satisfaction, none of them has so far shown any disapproval of the way I have focused on them as my characters”, he said.

He was asked to say as to who of Orissa’s chief ministers he admires most. “Nandini Satpathy”, he said, throwing lights on her ability to develop friendship and her sincerity in friendship and humanitarianism which in her heart she was wedded to.

Asked to compare the present day with the time he had embraced journalism, Prasanta rued over the decadence in democratic norms and said, Orissa has become a land of oppression on media persons. As the Government is blatantly nonchalant, mafia has unleashed repression on newsmen many a times in last couple of years and the climate is so inclement that journalists are feeling most insecure in trying to stay committed to their ethics.