Workshop on Sting Journalism by Broadcasters Club of Indian

Sting Operation is a requirement of the present era to get rid of negativities in the society, but with caution and utmost objectivity. In a day-long workshop organized by the BROADCASTERS CLUB OF INDIA for media students, all experts of Sting Journalism were unanimous that ‘a sting operation must be in public interest with full preparation, justification and responsibility.’

At Delhi’s Gandhi Peace Foundation last week, the workshop on Sting Journalism was probably the first of its kind in which media students from 16 media institutes were exposed to theoretical, practical and legal aspects of Sting Journalism and Sting Operation. Stretched in five sessions, the workshop took off with overall analysis of the sting Journalism.

Opening the session, senior journalist and the Head of Journalism, Lingaiya University, Dr. Shyam Kashyab expressed that targeting leaders most of the time was not good. Rather its base should be broadened to other sections of the society too, he said.

Noted journalist Yashwant Deshmukh opined that now there was no scope for any further discussion whether sting operation should be carried out or not. It must be carried out for the benefit of the larger chunk of the society.

Veteran media person Mukesh Kumar drew everyone’s attention towards the limitations of sting operation and underlined the need of proper training of the sting operation.

The Chief Executive of TIMES OF INDIA FOUNDATION P.C. Pandey emphasized that students should learn the art and science of sting operation very carefully and appropriately.

The Executive President of the BCI Onkareshwar Pandey, moderating the session, advised them to develop deep understanding of the trade before applying that practically.

P.N.Singh, General Secretary of the Broadcasters Club Of India, briefed the house about the aims and objectives of the organization and advised the students to be focused, devoted and become a keen learner.

In the following sessions the media students were described to all possible aspects of Sting Journalism and Sting Operation. Famous TV anchor Manoj Raghuvanshi and former Dy. Director (News), India TV Anuranjan Jha, who himself had conducted a good number of sting operations, briefed about intricacies of sting operations.
Manoj Raghuvanshi said that now the governments were also encouraging sting operations in some states through ‘reward schemes.’ “Do genuine sting operations and get rewarded,” he said.

Anuranjan Jha, while showing clippings of sting operations, explained that along with other activities of the reporter, he should be at home in camera operation also.
The bureau Chief of Voice of India Jaipur Sripal Shaktawat, sharing his experiences about some big sting operations in Rajasthan, narrated how his team was caught while doing sting operation on Female Feticide.

Sanjeev Chauhan, who has already worked in so many channels, opined that sting operationa should be done with cool mind. There has to be a perfect balance between heart and mind. Lacking any one of them affects the operation adversely.
In 5th and concluding session, a good number of media personalities and media school heads gathered and shared their views. Prominent among them were Dean, Mass Communication and Journalism IMS Dr. Devesh Kishore, Head of Jagaran Institute of Mass Communication and Journalism J.K. Sharan, Prof. H.N. Gill from Khalsa College and Dr Shyam Sharan from Lingaiya Institute of Journalism.

Dr. Devesh Kishore, the Chief Guest of the session, shared his long experience in journalistic activities and media teaching and requested students to stick to media ethics and not to get carried away by glitz and glamour of modern day media.
Raghuvendra Mudgal of ‘Chain Se Sona Hai To Ab Jaag jao’ fame who also shared his first hand experience about the subject.

While moderating the session, P.N.Singh, Secretary General of BCI and Asstt. Director Programmes, Doordarshan, said that the organization has plans for bigger events in future which will have more number of media schools participating.