From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 1 23:21:06 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 18:21:06 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] When `creative' came under pressure... Message-ID: <42122.203.90.115.194.1041463266.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> This has been a rather brutal year (2002) for the advertising industry, with smaller budgets, and a demand for greater accountability. One section, in particular, has suffered quietly; the creative folk, typically regarded as spoilt and difficult, have also felt the heat. Source: http://thehindubusinessline.com/2002/12/31/stories/2002123102010600.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 1 23:22:15 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 18:22:15 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Bollywood or bust Message-ID: <42572.203.90.115.194.1041463335.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> 2002 was annus horribilis for Bollywood. Whether it was the media spotlight on Hindi film industry's links with the underworld, or cumulative losses suffered by filmmakers to the tune Rs 300 crore, or even controversies like those generated by Ek Chhoti Si Love Story, the year gone by was one in which India's answer to Hollywood made news for all the wrong reasons. Source: http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit2%2Etxt&counter_img=2 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 23:26:26 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:26:26 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Tara Marathi Shuts Shop Message-ID: <63723.203.90.115.194.1041549986.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Tara Marathi has shut operations as Eternal Dreams, which was handling the management of the channel incurred severe losses. Rathikant Basu-promoted Broadcast Worldwide, which started the Tara group of regional channels, had entered into an agreement with Eternal Dreams to contract the management of the Marathi channel for three years.Tara’s regional language channels in Punjabi and Gujarati had already shut shop long back. Rathikant Basu-promoted Broadcast Worldwide ran its regional channels under Tara (Television Aimed at Regional Audiences).But the channels faced rough weather soon as Star refused to distribute the channels. Besides, the plan to come out with an initial public offering (IPO) also did not materialise. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25029 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 23:30:32 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:30:32 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Newsmarket To Launch Its Services In Jan Message-ID: <32922.203.90.115.194.1041550232.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Newsmarket Inc, an online platform for downloading broadcast standard video over the Internet, will formally launch its services in India in January, 2003.For half-hour of content archiving and distribution, The Newsmarket charges around $20,000. The TV journalists can source this content on the web and use the footage free of charge. TV stations will need a T-online broadband connection to the Internet. Bollywood producers can use the service of The Newsmarket, to archive and distribute their content to the TV stations in the US and Europe. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=24810 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 23:36:48 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:36:48 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Doordarshan to introduce DTH telecast in North-East Message-ID: <36183.203.90.115.194.1041550608.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Doordarshan is planning to introduce direct-to-home telecast of its programmes in the North-East while strengthening its marketing network to earn higher advertisement revenues commensurate with its nationwide reach. The national broadcaster would introduce DTH telecast through KU band in eight states, including Sikkim, in the region, the Doordarshan director-general S Y Quraishi told reporters here. For other regions, he said, two private channels - Star and Zee - have applied for DTH and the proposals are before the Union cabinet. Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?gid=&id=107859 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 23:38:08 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:38:08 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] 2003 - `Year of the Multimedia' Message-ID: <36766.203.90.115.194.1041550688.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Poised for growth in India, Multimedia's usage has expanded in films, television, animation, gaming, music, Internet, digital products and services. A Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) report projects revenues from the entertainment industry (includes films, TV and Music) to double to $6 billion by 2006. Moreover, the thrust on the multimedia segment is visible with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) declaring 2002-03 as the `Year of the Multimedia'. Requirements in these segments include supervisors, animators, compositors and programmers. Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/01/01/stories/2003010102401600.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 23:58:19 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 18:58:19 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Suggestive ads: Do they work? Message-ID: <46246.203.90.115.194.1041551899.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> DOES showing flesh really help? From branded paper to inane car batteries, from liquor brands to UPS systems, advertisers are increasingly portraying scantily-clad women to hardsell all kinds of products. Source: http://blonnet.com/2003/01/01/stories/2003010102050600.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 00:01:39 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 19:01:39 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Ad industry turns its back on 2002 - Hopes New Year will bring better times Message-ID: <47710.203.90.115.194.1041552099.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> According to the 12th A&M Agency report, the ad industry registered a growth rate of 23.49 per cent for the year 2000-01. Insiders believe the industry may show a marginal growth this year; one of the few bright spots was the apparent success of the fledgling media buying agencies. Source: http://blonnet.com/2003/01/01/stories/2003010102070600.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 22:38:46 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 17:38:46 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Living Media seeks nod for niche publication Message-ID: <65340.203.90.115.194.1041633526.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Taking advantage of the government’s shift in policy on print media, Living Media has sent in a second application to the ministry of information and broadcasting to start an Indian edition of the Scientific American. It had earlier sent in the first application under the liberalised policy for the Indian edition of the sports speciality magazine, Golf Digest, published in the US.Scientific American is a renowned magazine on science and technology and has been in publication for 150 years. It is known to chronicle major discoveries and inventions, most often authored by people involved in the work. Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=33202182 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 22:41:53 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 17:41:53 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Introspection sums up Bollywood mood Message-ID: <33672.203.90.115.194.1041633713.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> For the industry, which lost Rs 300 crore in 2002 alone, the multi-crore question is: What ails Bollywood? Of the 226 movies released last year, 90 per cent bombed with only two, Raaz and Devdas managing to prove their mettle at the box office. Weak scripts and high production costs, said a cross-section of industry's people. "About 90 per cent of the industry's misfortunes could be attributed to poor scripts," said film trade analyst Komal Nahata. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=33207332 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 22:46:36 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 17:46:36 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Technological channel for technical courses Message-ID: <35896.203.90.115.194.1041633996.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The new technology channel will be part of the educational TV, Gyan Darshan scheduled to starts its broadcasting from forthcoming 26th January. To begin with, the new technology channel will focus on engineering courses as taught at the undergraduate level. The government has recently lunched its programme, National programme for distance and web-based education in technology. As part of this initiative, courseware will be developed for engineering colleges in the web and video format. The material will be developed by premier institutions of science and technology, such as the IITs and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=32802525 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 22:48:01 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 17:48:01 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] I&B Ministry to introduce 3 Bills in budget session Message-ID: <36533.203.90.115.194.1041634081.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Flushed with the success of having piloted three policy changes in the media sector in 2002, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry is working overtime to introduce three legislations that seek to monitor print and broadcasting sectors, besides check piracy, in the coming budget session of Parliament. Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/01/02/stories/2003010201441300.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 22:50:36 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 17:50:36 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Animation Industry Eyes Govt Funds; Plans Training Institute Message-ID: <37511.203.90.115.194.1041634236.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Indian animation industry is working out an organised funding structure based on international models. Taiwan and Korea are among the countries which are being closely monitored by the Animation Producers Association of India (APAI) for an effective funding model.Another key issue being addressed by APAI is training. So far, there is not even a single training institute in India dedicated to animation, as against 60 animation colleges in Korea. Also, Korea is aiming for 40,000 animators in the next five years. According to an APAI founder member Biren Ghose, to begin with, one high-quality animation institute is being planned. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25095 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 22:53:20 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 17:53:20 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] 'India well-placed in animation market' Message-ID: <38846.203.90.115.194.1041634400.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Indian animation market, fairly static until a year ago, has positioned itself as a significant provider of animation production (pre and post) services, according to a survey done by the National Association of Software & Service Companies (Nasscom) recently. In its latest survey, Nasscom said the Indian animation market is suddenly waking up to a host of global opportunities that promise a lot of action for the country’s leading design specialists. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25094 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 08:01:11 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 05 Jan 2003 13:31:11 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Why are Indian talking heads bla(h)se? Message-ID: <3E17E647.8000301@vasnet.co.in> Consider the airtime rates: says Yash Khanna, senior vice-president, Star TV, Around 30-minute air time on popular programmes like Kyunki Saas is sold for an estimated Rs 30 lakh, whereas a similar slot on a general talk show is priced at around Rs 50,000. Thats the ratio on other channels as well because the bottomline is that celebrity hosts leave Indian viewers cold. Most of the shows, whether in the entertainment category or news and current affairs-based programmes like Big Fight, Question Hour (see chart), have been generating extremely poor television rating points (TRPs). Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=33400065 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 08:01:00 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 05 Jan 2003 13:31:00 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Book Review: A Real Look At The Virtual World Message-ID: <3E17E63C.7060203@vasnet.co.in> The Internet hype is dead, long live the Internet. That seems to be the message that keeps flashing through Get A Digital Life: An Internet Reality Check, like popup windows that keep re-appearing on your screen as soon as you close them down. But whether you are a retailer, manufacturer or in the service industry, ignore this message at your own peril. For, far from running down the power of the World Wide Web, authors Jim Carroll and Rick Broadhead are passionate believers in the power it holds to transform your world. After all, the passion that went out of fashion after the dotcom disaster (that made megabillions look like small change and actually turned them into it), the pendulum swung to the other extreme. The same media that had made heroes out of idea-millionaires who “created” virtual wealth and destroyed real money in “Internet time” (another concept that the authors delight in debunking), were now declaring that the Internet was finished. What makes the book an interesting read is the clinically dispassionate manner in which the duo conduct the post-mortem of the boom and doom years of the Net without making villains or heroes out of the characters that played questionable roles in pumping up the bubble. Clearly a product of long hours of painstaking research spread over more than a year, the book is liberally peppered with interesting statistics, facts and samples of fiction that were taken for fact while the “idea virus” was on a rampage. Get A Digital Life—An Internet Reality Check by Jim Carrol & Rick Broadhead; Macmillan India; Rs 198; Pp 221 Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25243 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 08:01:20 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 05 Jan 2003 13:31:20 +0530 Subject: [icernet] 'Newspapers suffering due to Govt. policies' Message-ID: <3E17E650.30106@vasnet.co.in> The president of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), Abhay Chaglani, today said there was a crisis in the newspaper industry and charged the Government with doing nothing to make things easier for the print media. Newspapers were suffering due to the policies of the Government on the one side and competition among themselves and from the television channels on the other, he said. Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/01/05/stories/2003010505571100.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 08:01:28 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 05 Jan 2003 13:31:28 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Indian TV channels slug it out Message-ID: <3E17E658.1080202@vasnet.co.in> There is lot of action happening behind the small screens that are perennially lit up in Indian homes. The TV channels are going all out to grab a larger share of the ratings, and, by extension, the advertising pie. In the process, they are not hesitating to try any trick in the book - and some not in it. Among other tactics, the channels are inflating their ratings, bringing in seasoned marketing veterans from other industries to head their operations, tying up with movie production companies and pinching seasoned professionals from competitors. Source: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EA04Df01.html From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 08:01:36 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 05 Jan 2003 13:31:36 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Sahib singh advocates justice for scribes Message-ID: <3E17E660.30406@vasnet.co.in> Calling for a fearless and honest journalism for strengthening Indian democracy, Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma today said he would see that journalists working in newspapers got justice. "It is regretable that reports of wage boards fixing wages for working journalists were not (not) implemented by all the newspapers in the country," Verma said. Weakening of newspapers in the country would not (not) be healthy sign for the country and it would be desirable that newspapers shun commercialism and remain uneffected by politics, he said. Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=109532 From jhuns@vt.edu Tue Jan 7 15:46:21 2003 From: jhuns@vt.edu (jeremy hunsinger) Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 10:46:21 -0500 Subject: [icernet] Call for Papers - Internet Research 4.0: Broadening the Band - 4th Annual AoIR Conference Message-ID: <2B0A28B0-2257-11D7-A0A3-0003931A63CC@vt.edu> >> apologies for cross-posting >> >> [please distribute widely] >> >> Call for Papers - IR 4.0: Broadening the Band >> International and Interdisciplinary Conference of the Association of >> Internet Researchers in Toronto, Ontario, Canada October 16-19 >> >> Lead organizer Knowledge Media Design Institute at the University of >> Toronto >> >> Submission site opens: January 15, 2003 >> Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2003 >> >> Conference Website: >> http://www.aoir.org/2003 | http://www.ecommons.net/aoir >> >> >> Digital communications networks such as the Internet are changing the >> way people interact with each other, with profound effects on social >> relations and institutions. Yet many remain excluded from access and >> meaningful participation. It is timely to consider who is included, >> who is excluded and what we now know about the composition and >> activities of online communities. >> >> Internet Research (IR) 4.0 will feature a variety of perspectives on >> Internet, organized under the theme Broadening the Band. As in >> previous conferences, the aim is to develop a coherent theoretical >> and pragmatic understanding of the Internet and those that are >> empowered and disenfranchised by it. IR 4.0 will bring together >> prominent scholars, researchers, creators, and practitioners from >> many disciplines, fields and countries for a program of >> presentations, panel discussions, and informal exchanges. >> >> IR 4.0 will take place at the Hilton Hotel in the heart of downtown >> Toronto. The conference is hosted by a team led by the Knowledge >> Media Design Institute (KMDI) and its partners at the University of >> Toronto. The IR 4.0 steering and working committees reflect the >> growing pan-Canadian network of Internet researchers, including >> members from Quebec, Alberta, and New Brunswick, in addition to the >> local contingent from Toronto, York and Ryerson Universities. >> >> This year's theme, Broadening the Band, encourages wide participation >> from diverse disciplines, communities, and points of view. Under the >> umbrella theme, contributors are called to reflect upon, theorize and >> articulate what we know from within the emerging interdisciplinary >> space known as Internet Research. >> >> In a cultural sense, the theme calls attention to the need to examine >> access, inclusion and exclusion in online communities. What role do >> race, gender, class, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, age, >> geography, and other factors play in the degree of online >> participation? What are the indicators of meaningful participation? >> >> In a technical sense, the theme points to the development of >> broadband, wireless and post-internet networks and applications that >> are currently coming on-stream including community, private, public >> as well as national research networks (e.g. CA*net 4, Internet 2). We >> plan to use these technologies to make the conference an >> internet-mediated and internationally accessible event. >> >> In an organizational sense, the theme reflects a widening of AoIR's >> reach to include more researchers and constituencies involved in the >> evolution of the Internet. French language presentations will be >> included in the call for papers for the first time. Researchers and >> practitioners in the arts and culture sectors are encouraged to >> participate alongside social scientists and humanities scholars and >> researchers. >> >> In a thematic sense, "Broadening the Band" suggests widening the >> scope of topics and problematics considered within past conferences, >> while retaining the consistent emphasis on rigorous research work. >> This call for papers thus initiates an inclusive search for >> theoretical and methodological correspondences between this expanding >> theme and the many disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches that >> are required to address it with precision. >> >> Possible Topics: >> - Who is bridging what: questions and answers on the digital divide >> - New directions in digital art >> - E-me, e-you? (E- Health, E-Governance, E-Commerce,E-Business, >> E-games, E-entertainment, E-other) >> - Ethnicity, Race, Identity, Gender, Sexuality, Language(s) and >> Diverse Cultural Contexts Online >> - Who Decides: Ethics, Law, Politics and Policy of the Internet >> - We can't measure that, can we? Meaningful Indicators for Internet >> Access, Participation, Use and Effects >> - Who owns what? Value, Space, and Commons on the Internet >> - Is there an Author, a Publisher, or writing on the internet? >> - Transformed by Technics: New Technologies and The Post-Internet Age >> - Who is watching your computer, when You're not watching it.... >> - When we are glocal: the internet in global and local manifestations >> - I put my lesson plans on the internet, what changed? Teaching, >> Learning and the Internet >> - Digital media and terror/ism: global flows, economies, and >> surveillance >> - Social movements, net-based activism, and hactivism in a global >> arena >> - Which methods, whose theories? determining approaches to internet >> research >> - Why did we digitize that, and what's it worth? Exploring the value >> of digital content >> >> This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to trigger ideas >> and encourage submissions from a range of disciplines. The organizers >> will take an active role in generating and joining the various >> interests into appropriate formats. >> >> >> Submission of Proposals >> >> The Association of Internet Researchers invites paper, presentation, >> and panel proposals from AoIR members and non-members on topics that >> address social, cultural, political, economic, and aesthetic aspects >> of the Internet. We welcome interdisciplinary submissions as well as >> submissions from within specific disciplines. French language >> presentations will be included in the call for papers for the first >> time. We especially seek panel proposals that establish connections >> across disciplines, institutions, and/or continents. We also >> encourage creative presentations that will make use of Internet >> technologies and artistic techniques. Proposals for papers should be >> in the form an approximately 500-750 word abstract. Creative >> presentations and demonstration projects should consist of an >> approximately 500-750 word abstract, plus brief illustrative >> material. Panels will generally include three to four papers or >> presentations. The panel organizer should submit an approximately 500 >> word statement describing the session topic, include abstracts of up >> to 250 words for each paper or presentation, and indicate that each >> author is willing to participate in the session. Abstracts and >> proposals may be submitted for review in English or in French. >> >> Papers, presentations and panels will be selected from the submitted >> abstracts on the basis of peer review, coordinated and overseen by >> the Program Chair, assisted by sub-chairs with expertise in specific >> areas of scholarly and aesthetic knowledge relating to the Internet. >> >> Proposals can be for three types of contribution to the conference: - >> papers, creative presentations, and panels. Each person is invited to >> submit a proposal for 1 paper or 1 presentation. People may also >> propose a panel of papers or presentations, of which their personal >> paper or presentation must be a part. Average time allotted for a >> paper or creative presentation will be 20 minutes. Average time >> allotted for a panel will be 1 hour and 30 minutes, including >> discussion time. >> >> Detailed information about format of submission and review is >> available at the conference website http://www.aoir.org/2003. All >> proposals must be submitted electronically at >> http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/confman/ (_note_ - submission site opens >> January 15, 2003). >> >> Deadlines: >> >> Submission site available: January 15, 2003 >> Final date for proposal submission: March 1, 2003 >> Author notification: April 1, 2003 >> Presenter's Registration to the conference: September 1, 2003 >> Student Award: Completed paper: September 1, 2003 >> >> Graduate Students: >> >> Graduate students are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. They >> should note their student status with submission in order to be >> considered for a special Student Award. Students wishing to be a >> candidate for the Student Award must also send a final paper by 1st >> September 2003. >> >> Canadian graduate students outside of central Canada should note that >> funds may be available for travel and subsistence. Notice will be >> sent out to the AoIR list as soon as funding commitments are >> confirmed. >> >> To ensure diverse participation, registration fees will be kept low >> for presenters, and a billeting and room sharing system will be >> established. Simultaneous French language translation will be >> available (subject to budgetary considerations) in certain sessions. >> >> >> Pre-Conference Workshops >> >> Prior to the conference, there will be a limited number of >> pre-conference workshops which will provide participants with >> in-depth, hands-on and/or creative opportunities. We invite proposals >> for these pre-conference workshops; local presenters are encouraged >> to propose workshops that will invite visiting researchers into their >> labs or studios or locales. Proposals should be no more than 1000 >> words, and should clearly outline the purpose, methodology, >> structure, costs, equipment and minimal attendance required, as well >> as explaining its relevance to the conference as a whole. Proposals >> will be accepted if they demonstrate that the workshop will add >> significantly to the overall program in terms of thematic depth, >> hands on experience, or local opportunities for scholarly or artistic >> connections. These proposals and all inquires regarding >> pre-conference proposals should be submitted as soon as possible to >> the Conference Chair aoir@ecommons.net, and will be accepted up to >> June 15th. Notification of terms and space allocations will be sent >> out as soon as details are confirmed, with final acceptance required >> by June 30, 2003. >> >> >> >> CONTACT INFORMATION >> >> If you have questions about the conference, program, or AoIR, please >> contact: >> >> Program Chair: Matthew Allen, Curtin University of Technology, >> Australia >> m.allen@curtin.edu.au >> - All inquiries on review and acceptances >> >> Program Co-chair: David Mitchell, University of Calgary >> mitchell@ucalgary.ca >> - Inquiries on conference themes and special technology themes >> >> Conference Chair: Liss Jeffrey, Knowledge Media Design Institute and >> McLuhan Program, University of Toronto >> aoir@ecommons.net >> - All inquiries on Toronto conference and pre-conference workshops >> >> Associate coordinator: Katherine Parrish, OISE/University of Toronto >> aoir@ecommons.net >> >> AoIR President: Steve Jones >> sjones@uic.edu >> >> Association Website: http://www.aoir.org >> >> Conference Website: http://www.aoir.org/2003 | >> http://www.ecommons.net/aoir >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Air-l mailing list >> Air-l@aoir.org >> http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l >> jeremy hunsinger jhuns@vt.edu on the ibook www.cddc.vt.edu www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 10 17:10:01 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 12:10:01 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Cell Population Crosses 1 Crore Message-ID: <2580.203.200.122.46.1042218601.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The number of cellular subscribers in India has almost doubled in calendar 2002 to cross the one crore mark. The total number of cellular subscribers (excluding BSNL cellular subscribers) have grown by 47.7 per cent to touch 1.04 crore by the end of 2002 from 54.78 lakh subscribers at the end of 2001. In all, 7.49 lakh new subscribers came on board in December last year registering a growth of 7.7 per cent. The growth is marginally higher than 7.43 lakh new subscribers across the country in November 2002, according to the subscription data released by cellular operators association of India (COAI). Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25591 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 10 17:12:26 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 12:12:26 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] CII Sings Bollywood Tune In Budget Proposal To FM Message-ID: <2581.203.200.122.46.1042218746.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> After a series of box-office disasters all through last year, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has put forward proposals to revive the entertainment sector. Interestingly, CII budgetary recommendations have come at a time when Silicon Valley venture capitalists are keen to invest in the Indian entertainment industry. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25582 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 10 17:15:30 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 12:15:30 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Ispai Plans Detailed Study On Internet Usage; Hunting For Funds Message-ID: <2582.203.200.122.46.1042218930.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Internet Service Providers’ Association of India (Ispai) is planning to undertake a comprehensive research on Internet usage in the country across user segments as well as the state of ISP (Internet Service Providers) industry in the country. The scope of research that Ispai plans to undertake appears vast and will include total number of Internet subscribers across various segments, say, corporate, home, cybercafes, SOHO (small office home office), etc. It will factor multiple use on each subscription and arrive at a realistic total number of Internet users across different segments; age, education, income, vocation profile of users and a demographic profile across different geographic locations among other things. It will also look at usage patterns, for example the type of subscription packages preferred; accessing profile — whether it is through individual access such as own PCs or office PCs or through shared mechanism such as cyber cafes’ etc; preferred sites, most visited sites and purpose, most often used applications across age-groups and sex, among others. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25584 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 10 17:28:10 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 12:28:10 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] FDI Norms For News Agencies Under Scanner Message-ID: <2630.203.200.122.46.1042219690.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The 1956 Resolution, which governs Indian news agencies, is likely to be reviewed, according to government sources. This development follows the move by the information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry to take to the cabinet the issue of foreign equity component in news TV channels.The cabinet is expected to take a decision on news channels sometime this month. Although print and television media are open to foreign investment, news agencies responsible for distribution of news need to be 100 per cent Indian-owned. As per the 1956 Resolution, ‘‘communication facilities can be granted only where the distribution of news within the country is to be effected through an Indian news agency, owned and managed by Indians....’’ As per the existing norms, Indian news agencies owned and managed by Indians would have full and final authority for distribution of foreign news also. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25515 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 10 17:49:20 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 12:49:20 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Entertainment Industry Makes Its Pitch For The Budget Message-ID: <2729.203.200.122.46.1042220960.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Broadcasters, film producers, music companies and animation sector representatives made their budget pitch to the government. The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), which is the apex body for the entertainment industry, along with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) delegations, presented the recommendations to the information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj. IBF asked the government for a complete waiver of custom duties on import of content creation, uplinking and downlinking hardware, and broadcasting software for the next five years. On behalf of the film industry, the CII and Ficci delegations stressed the need for a fair service tax structure and abolition of advance tax. Multi-layered service tax has been a problematic issue for the entertainment industry for long. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25378 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 10 17:55:35 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 12:55:35 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Film personalities for promoting education through cinema Message-ID: <2745.203.200.122.46.1042221335.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Bollywood personalities today favoured promotion of education through the entertainment industry underlining the need to develop new technologies and better art of communication. Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=110556 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 10 17:56:32 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 12:56:32 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Newspapers asked to carry "advice" with matrimonials Message-ID: <2747.203.200.122.46.1042221392.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Press Council has asked newspapers to carry with matrimonial advertisements an advice asking readers to make thorough inquiries before acting upon them. The Council, responding to a suggestion from the Delhi High Court, has instructed newspapers to publish a note alongside matrimonial ads saying "readers are advised to make appropriate thorough inquiries before acting upon any advertisement. This newspapers does not vouch or subscribe to claim and representation made by the advertiser regarding the particulars of status, age, income of the bride/bridegroom." A statement from the Council here today said it advises newspapers to carry this "advice" so that readers make thorough inquiries about the details regarding age, family background and income. Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=109930 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 16 15:05:51 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 20:35:51 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Vendetta against media will damage India, says Naipaul Message-ID: <3E26CA4F.5000301@vasnet.co.in> India faces the threat of censorship comparable with Indira Gandhi's state of emergency, the novelist Sir V S Naipaul warned. The Nobel laureate described his disappointment and anxiety at the government's "persecution" of Tehelka.com, an internet media company that exposed one of the biggest bribery scandals in India's post-independence history. "It has become a bad story, and it could possibly become even worse," he said at a news conference in Delhi. Source: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia_china/story.jsp?story=369265 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 16 15:06:15 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 20:36:15 +0530 Subject: [icernet] The Right to Information - A Cleansing Effect Message-ID: <3E26CA67.7040901@vasnet.co.in> The fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression is meaningless without authentic requisite information about issues and subjects on which opinions are to be formed and expressed. The right to information is, therefore, implicit in the right to free speech and is as much fundamental. Parliament has now enabled the citizens to exercise their fundamental right of free speech and information. Therefore, there are reasons to cheer the passage of the much awaited Freedom of Information Bill  2002, an important landmark in the history of Indian democracy. The Bill grants statutory right to the citizens to access information from the Government. The legislation is in accord with both Article 19 of the Constitution as well as Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Source: http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2003/fjan2003/f160120031.html From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 16 15:06:04 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 20:36:04 +0530 Subject: [icernet] DIT Pitches For Rs 50-80 Cr Allocation For Media Lab Message-ID: <3E26CA5C.70409@vasnet.co.in> The Department of Information Technology is proposing a budget allocation of up to Rs 80 crore for the fiscal ending March 2004 to the government of India for Media Lab Asia (MLA). MLA, is an initiative of the government with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). With the help of a $13 million (Rs 65 crore) seed-funding from the government of India, the Media Lab at MIT established Media Lab Asia in March 2001. For this fiscal ending March 2003, a total of Rs 470 crore was allocated for the department of IT. The R&D initiatives of MLA are centred around technologies that build low-cost computing devices, bits for all (rural connectivity), tools for tomorrow (censors) and integration into digital village. MLA has tied up with top scientific institutions in India to create a North-South collaboration that addresses the largest humanitarian issues in countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Every regional laboratory is formed around several core projects, each involving academic, industrial, and village community partners. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=26010 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 16 15:06:24 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 20:36:24 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Conditional access in Metros makes cable TV costlier Message-ID: <3E26CA70.1090008@vasnet.co.in> The notification on the Cable Regulation Network Amendment Act, making it mandatory to view pay channels through a conditional access system (CAS), came into immediate effect in the four metros. In other words, viewers will have to shell out more for watching pay channels like Star, Zee, Sony, Discovery, National Geographic, as it will be illegal to receive these channels without a CAS. So, subscription bills are expected to rise to around Rs 500 per month. Currently, a cable viewer pays anything between Rs 100 and Rs 300. As of now, cable operators collect roughly Rs 5,000 crores as subscription fee, of which broadcasters claim only Rs 500 crores is passed on to them. With the CAS in place, broadcasters will hope to gross at least Rs 2,500 crores, to begin with. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=16685 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 16 15:06:33 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 20:36:33 +0530 Subject: [icernet] 1,000 community radio stations in IITs, IIMs by 2003-end Message-ID: <3E26CA79.8080409@vasnet.co.in> Some 1,000 radio stations would be set up this year in the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management and residential schools, Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj. Under the proposal, established universities, colleges and schools can apply for an FM transmitter as per availability of frequency. The station cannot be used for commercial purposes or for broadcasting news, current affairs, election and political content or advertisements. After the approval from ministries and departments concerned, 10-year licences would be awarded to run the radio station in the campus. The programmes have to have localised content, focussing on community development, education and environment. There is no ban on religious programmes under the head of social and cultural content, though the government has warned against misuse. Source: http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEH20030114105056 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 17 21:05:50 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 16:05:50 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Why Bollywood rules Message-ID: <34177.203.90.115.194.1042837550.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Bollywood cinema sets a trend, a pattern for all regional cinemas in India. The power of Hindi films is such that its depiction of women and other stereotypes affects the Indian psyche in the long run. There are well near 13,000 cinemas in India of which 8,000 are in the four southern states — Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In fact, there are hardly any cinemas in the villages in northern India unlike in the south. Cinema is more a northern urban phenomenon and yet it is Hindi cinema that rules. Why so? One of the reasons is that Hindi cinema draws talent from all over India, unlike the cinema of the south. Maybe this alone could be the main reason. Though Hindi is the official “national” language, it is limited to north of the Vindhyas. Source: http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/movies/2003/january/41888.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 17 15:44:57 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 21:14:57 +0530 Subject: [icernet] A TV channel for students studying engineering and technology Message-ID: <3E2824F9.7070802@vasnet.co.in> An exclusive television channel for the benefit of students studying engineering and technology courses is to be launched on the Republic Day this year. A free-to-air digital channel, this would be launched as part of Gyan Darshan by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Starting with 16 hours of daily transmission, it would eventually be a 24 hour channel, an official release said adding that infrastructure at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) would be used for uplinking this channel. Nearly 15 lakh students studying technical education in 1,200 colleges across the country are expected to benefit from this initiative, the release said.  The focus of the channel would be curriculum based programmes for undergraduate studies in engineering and technology. It would be coordinated by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi; all IITs would participate in this venture. The channel would relay eight courses in a series to be telecast on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. A repeat telecast will also be made on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On Sundays, special interest programmes and small modules on thematic topics would be telecast, the release added. Source: PTI - 17th Jan 2003 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 17 15:46:44 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 21:16:44 +0530 Subject: [icernet] IBF's ambitious guidelines ready for satellite channels Message-ID: <3E282564.9090206@vasnet.co.in> As codes for television channels go, this will go down as the mother of all codes. A compendium of dos and donts for satellite channels, coming as it does after 10 years since satellite channels invaded Indian homes. Bigger than the programme code drawn up by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and ambitious in intent. The code has been drawn up by the Indian Broadcasting Federation (IBF) and looks into news, entertainment, films on TV and radio, and is binding on all satellite channels. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=16818 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 19 15:34:29 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 21:04:29 +0530 Subject: [icernet] AIR to have slots on VOA, BBC Message-ID: <3E2AC585.2020801@vasnet.co.in> In a decision that is expected to cater to the Indian Diaspora overseas, All India Radio is to have slots for Indian programmes on the domestic channels of the Voice of America and the British Broadcasting Corporation radio. Both BBC and VOA had approached AIR for slots on its channels, and Prasar Bharati had in turn asked for similar slots on their domestic channels in the United Kingdom and United States. Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/holnus/02172208.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 19 15:34:19 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 21:04:19 +0530 Subject: [icernet] AP Launches CyberGrameen Scheme Message-ID: <3E2AC57B.5010101@vasnet.co.in> Andhra Pradesh has achieved yet another distinction to host the country's first `CyberGrameen', a rural broadband network, aiming at convergence of information technology offering internet and e-governance tools at the remote villages. Promoted by Swarna Bharat Trust, headed by T Krishnaprasad, Chairman of Spartek of Chennai, the CyberGrameen was initially launched at Venkatachalam village of Nellore district. The services offered by CyberGrameen will include telephony services, telemedicine, distance learning, high speed data/internet, agricultural/horticultural services, easy-to-use native language e-Mail, online weather forecasts, banking, insurance and e-Governance. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=26211 CyberGrameen — a rural project with a difference http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/15/stories/2003011500301700.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 19 15:34:38 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 21:04:38 +0530 Subject: [icernet] More news may not be good news for channels Message-ID: <3E2AC58E.50202@vasnet.co.in> From Aaj Tak to NDTV and Sahara to Star, they are all launching news channels in the coming months. But experts caution that despite the growing appetite for news and news-based programming, there may not be room for so many players. Add super-specialisation, low channel loyalty, and big viewership only for unpredictable breaking news, and the news gets worse. Over the next few months, news channel launches are expected from NDTV (Hindi and English), Aaj Tak (English), Sahara (national and regional), the Dhoots (Hindi business), Star and Channel News Asia (English). Sahara alone plans to invest about Rs 600 crore, on a national channel and six regional channels by June, and up to 30 regional channels. While the number of advertisers on TV actually fell in 2001, news channels welcomed 200 new advertisers: the number of advertisers went up from 504 in 2000 to 686 in 2001, according to TAM-AdEx. Last year, news channels added 100 advertisers. Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/18/stories/2003011802600100.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 19 15:34:47 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 21:04:47 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Specialist magazines eat into general category Message-ID: <3E2AC597.1050208@vasnet.co.in> An increase in the number of titles on the stands has led to a slump in ad revenues for magazines, but in terms of overall share, magazines have actually been making small gains in recent years.However, niche and specialist magazines have been growing at the cost of general interest magazines, according to a report from TAM-AdEx. Magazines currently have a 12.5 per cent share of overall print ad revenues  estimated at about Rs 4,400 crore  which is up from a share of 11.8 per cent in 2000. However, this is no cause for celebration: In 1994, magazines had a more respectable 23 per cent share of print ad revenues, according to TAM-AdEx. Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/18/stories/2003011801460600.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 19 15:34:57 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 21:04:57 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Skewed planning impeding e-governance, says Nasscom Message-ID: <3E2AC5A1.9080103@vasnet.co.in> The unwillingness of governments to commit funding, the absence of a clear revenue stream for private sector and inappropriate tendering processes are hampering the growth of e-governance in the country, the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) has said. Though the e-governance market grew by 18 per cent in 2001-02 to touch Rs 1,400 crore and is currently the highest growing segment in the domestic IT market, several `operational, economic, personnel, planning and implementation issues' stall progress in the area, Nasscom said after releasing the findings of its e-governance study. Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/17/stories/2003011701620700.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 19 15:35:04 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 21:05:04 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Soaps to get more `colourful' lather Message-ID: <3E2AC5A8.2090606@vasnet.co.in> Popular entertainment channels of late have started airing serials set in different backdrops. Is it variety that they are offering or is it an attempt to woo vernacular viewership? According to Mr Sanjay Garg, Client Services Director, Enterprise Nexus, a change in backdrop helps infuse freshness and attract people in that particular region. "Serials specific to a State or a culture could help boost the TVRs (television ratings) in that region. For instance, Sony may be trying to attract audiences in Kerala with its Goonj Ateet Ki or Bengali viewers with its new offering," he said. Also, these States have several regional channels with high loyal viewership, which the Hindi channels are trying to pull. Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/14/stories/2003011402500100.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Mon Jan 20 15:08:07 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 20:38:07 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Corporate Disclosures And The Media Message-ID: <3E2C10D7.2030202@vasnet.co.in> Eight years ago, when the IPO market was at its manic worst, corporate India first began to demand curbs on media reporting. While companies indulged in the most bizarre strategies to woo journalists and engineer glowing coverage of shady public issues, they wanted a code of conduct for business journalists. The Press Council of India obliged and produced a set of guidelines, exclusively for financial journalists. They said that — business journalists should not accept gifts, trips, discounts, loans or similar gratification that would compromise their position. Journalists should not write about companies whose shares they held. Newspaper owners/editors should not use their connections to further their business interests; and journalists and their friends/relatives should not use inside information to make easy money. The guidelines were rather unfair and forgotten soon after they were issued. Although business writing undoubtedly needs to be purged of chequebook journalism, the problem is by no means restricted to the pink press or their cousins in the general dailies. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=26261 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Mon Jan 20 15:07:57 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 20:37:57 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Nepal jitters over foreign media investment Message-ID: <3E2C10CD.6070108@vasnet.co.in> Nepal's laws and long-term official policy on media do not permit foreign investment in the print media. That, perhaps, was the reason why APCA investment came through the back door. The long-term communication policy of the government is comparatively liberal for the electronic media, where foreign investment of up to 25 percent is permitted. Critics of the government policy think it unsuitable in this age of globalization. Free media associations that advocate for the free movement of media persons and media products also find the idea of regulating investment in the media somewhat foolish. According to them, restrictive measures automatically discourage investment useful to create gainful employment opportunities, and broaden the base of tax revenue. Investment should also be invited from countries in Asia, Europe and America as this will help institutionalize political plurality in Nepal, they argue. Source: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EA21Df02.html From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Mon Jan 20 15:08:16 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 20:38:16 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Govt formulating scheme for insurance, pension to journalists Message-ID: <3E2C10E0.8090405@vasnet.co.in> Government is formulating a scheme for providing insurance cover and pension to journalists who die in harness. The scheme would aim at providing Rs 10 lakh as group insurance cover, Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj today said inaugurating the fifth National Conference of Regional Newspapers. The Minister said discussions had already been held with the LIC Chairman on the matter and the Government would make a major contribution to the scheme. Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=112715 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Tue Jan 21 15:44:34 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 21:14:34 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Switzerland has first legally-binding Internet vote Message-ID: <3E2D6AE2.4020405@vasnet.co.in> The 1,162 voters of the Swiss village of Anieres, Switzerland had the opportunity to cast the world's first legally-binding Internet vote for a local referendum, reports CNN.com and Slashdot. Voters had the options of paper ballot, mailing their vote, or casting an e-vote. All e-votes were stored online, accessed on January 19 and tallied with the paper ballot that was conducted on the same date. The voting was done via a government Web site. Slashdot reports that 44% of the voters voted via the Internet. Source: http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/01/20/switzerland.internet.ap/ From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Tue Jan 21 15:44:23 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 21:14:23 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Is he DD's saviour? (M V Kamath - Chairman Prasar Bharati) Message-ID: <3E2D6AD7.5020102@vasnet.co.in> The Prasar Bharati chairman proceeded to lay the blueprint for public broadcasters Doordarshan and All-India Radio. Contemporary journalism, said the veteran, had become opinionated and far-removed from the discreet manner of news reportage which he experienced during his hey days. For someone born in 1921, the new era of journalism would be a different reality to grow with but he promised to evolve not just to changes in the media industry but also within himself. Doordarshan, he conceded, had failed to take advantage of its wide viewership, not available to private channels. Prasar Bharati's new strategy would be to make changes in the presentation and packaging of news and other entertainment programmes. So far the role of public broadcasters had also come with a heavy baggage of being restrained in its presentation. The chairman understands that as public broadcasters, DD and AIR would have to meet their social obligations first and then think of profit. Enhancing revenue streams would obviously remain a parallel line to the main focus but nevertheless time was ripe to wake up to realities of a market-driven media scenario. Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/vivacity1.asp?main_variable=MEDIA&file_name=med3%2Etxt&counter_img=3 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Tue Jan 21 15:44:44 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 21:14:44 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Afghans ban cable TV Message-ID: <3E2D6AEC.6050007@vasnet.co.in> Cable television services in the Afghan capital, Kabul, have been temporarily closed following a ruling by the country's chief justice. Fazel Hadi Shinwari closed cable TV in one district of Kabul and rejected an appeal against a recent ban in the eastern city of Jalalabad. The Kabul authorities then suspended all cable TV until Saturday pending a government decision. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2679397.stm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 22 15:41:08 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 21:11:08 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Media city emerging high-growth hub Message-ID: <3E2EBB94.9080207@vasnet.co.in> Dubai Media City has beat the global downturn to emerge as a high-growth media hub in the region, with 560 companies currently operating out of its modern premises in the suburbs of Dubai. The city was established to promote content creation and give media companies the "freedom to create", according to information provided by the Media City. It is part of Dubai's overall vision of accelerating the development of the knowledge economy in the region. Several global companies have set up base here to tap growing opportunities in the region. From 190 companies at the end of 2001, the media community here is today home to 560 companies. Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/21/stories/2003012102270400.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 22 15:40:58 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 21:10:58 +0530 Subject: [icernet] 'No plans to privatise DD and AIR' Message-ID: <3E2EBB8A.3060204@vasnet.co.in> Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Ramesh Bias on Tuesday said there were no plans to privatise Doordarshan or the All India Radio (AIR). "The two organisations have a social cause attached to them and their basic aim is not to make profits but entertain and inform," Bais told reporters. Doordarshan is playing an important role in upholding the country's tradition and culture and passing them on to the younger generation," he pointed out. He informed that the two national channels enjoyed the highest TRPs with 92 per cent of the television audience watching DD and 65 per cent listening to AIR. Source: http://news.sify.com/cgi-bin/sifynews/news/content/news_fullstory_v2.jsp?article_oid=12541406&category_oid=-20613 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 22 15:41:26 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 21:11:26 +0530 Subject: [icernet] India plans cyber defence centre Message-ID: <3E2EBBA6.3060503@vasnet.co.in> India is working to set up an internet security centre in the capital, Delhi, to try to prevent cyber attacks on key defence, business and government establishments. Officials said the centre could cost up to $20m and could be operational by the end of the year. The announcement was made at a national conference on information security management systems in the southern Indian city of Bangalore. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2677895.stm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 22 15:41:35 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 21:11:35 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Media as Big Brother Message-ID: <3E2EBBAF.1070503@vasnet.co.in> Government and Opposition are indistinguishable, so naturally it is up to the media to play the role of expose, interlocutor, and cop. What, pray tell, is so natural about a completely monopolistic and profit-driven cartel playing the role of judge, jury and executioner in society? Notice, in addition to all three branches of government, the most Machiavellian of governmental functions, that which embodies the states monopoly on violence, the police, is slipped into the list of roles the media must play, completing its new avatar of Leviathan/Big Brother. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=16532 From arul.selvan@manipal.edu Wed Jan 22 15:44:28 2003 From: arul.selvan@manipal.edu (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 21:14:28 +0530 Subject: [icernet] The Express Group's Loksatta - The Tiger Paper Message-ID: <3E2EBC5C.2080408@mic.manipal.edu> Those who participated in the freedom movement, and there were hundreds and thousands of them, had overcome the trauma of partition and were looking forward with hope to build a New India. Gandhiji continued to be an icon even as Pandit Nehru had emerged as a confident leader with vision. Indeed the spirit of the Mahatma and the vision of Nehru had provided that hope. This was the backdrop against which a new Marathi daily, Loksatta, was launched. Loksatta instantly reflected all these conflicting moods and ideas. The very first issue, published on January 14, 1948, headlined Mahatmas Do or Die appeal. Gandhiji had made the appeal because he appeared to be still concerned about the Hindu-Muslim relationship. He did not want the tension to deteriorate further. Strangely, the Mahatma had a premonition of sorts. He said that he would not mind sacrificing his life for the cause of peace, sanity and humanity. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=16586 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 22 15:47:30 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 21:17:30 +0530 Subject: [icernet] India plans cyber defence centre Message-ID: <3E2EBD12.4010504@vasnet.co.in> India is working to set up an internet security centre in the capital, Delhi, to try to prevent cyber attacks on key defence, business and government establishments. Officials said the centre could cost up to $20m and could be operational by the end of the year. The announcement was made at a national conference on information security management systems in the southern Indian city of Bangalore. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2677895.stm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 23 23:39:29 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 18:39:29 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Govt issues guidelines for setting up community radio stations Message-ID: <38793.203.90.115.194.1043365169.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The government has issued guidelines for setting up of community radio stations stipulating that content be confined to social, cultural and local issues and not offend "good taste or decency". The licensee has to ensure due emphasis in programmes to promote values of national integration, religious harmony, scientific temper and Indian culture, the guidelines issued by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said. Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=35183537 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 23 23:41:38 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 18:41:38 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Will old be gold for Bollywood? Message-ID: <39770.203.90.115.194.1043365298.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> After remaking a hundred Hollywood and South Indian hits, the Hindi film industry is now looking back and turning to itself for inspiration. Filmmakers seem to be latching on to the idea that old Indian classics are perhaps what they'd been looking for all along. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas is perhaps what started the 'looking back' trend. With the film being India's official entry to the Oscars, suddenly a lot of filmmakers are considering remakes. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=35260258 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 23 23:45:09 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 18:45:09 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] Foreign investment in news agencies being reviewed Message-ID: <41272.203.90.115.194.1043365509.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> After permitting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the print media, the Government has decided to look into the issue of allowing foreign investment in news agencies.Currently foreign agencies can distribute news in India only through an Indian news agency. Under a 1956 Cabinet resolution foreign news agencies can distribute news only through Indian news agencies. The resolution states that "... communication facilities can be granted only where the distribution of news within the country is to be effected through an Indian news agency, which would have full and final authority in the selection of foreign news for distribution and which would also be in a position to supply Indian news, in reasonable volume, to the foreign news agencies with whom they have a working arrangement." Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/22/stories/2003012202520500.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 23 23:48:21 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 18:48:21 -0500 (GMT+5) Subject: [icernet] 'Bollywood will bulldoze British film industry' Message-ID: <42601.203.90.115.194.1043365701.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Bollywood box office is on the verge of its biggest takeover yet and the prediction spells gloom for the British film industry. Faced with the inevitable, Paul Brett and Paul Howson are in Mumbai to take evasive action. Their brief: promoting British cinema abroad and increase cooperation with the entertainment industry in foreign countries. ‘‘We are here to find ways to bring more British films in India, explore possibilities of organising training for film professionals, revitalise the British Council’s programming, and get more British programming on Indian TV,’’ explains Howson, who will also travel to Chennai and New Delhi this week. Source: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=41800 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 24 14:21:20 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 19:51:20 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Crunch time in Bollywood Message-ID: <3E314BE0.5020304@vasnet.co.in> Huge Indian film biz faces creative, financial crisis Alternative sought to traditional plots, Hollywood copies. "But our treatment will be different." It's a clichéd phrase often heard but seldom followed by Bollywood, the Mumbai (Bombay)-centred Indian film industry that churns out twice as many films as Hollywood every year. When Bollywood could make and sell nearly 1,000 films a year, being original was not a big concern. But suddenly Indian filmmakers, known for blending song and dance with heady melodrama, are being forced to take a reality check. Observers of the multi-million dollar industry say it's time to turn promises of new ideas into reality. Until very recently, such a reassessment was unthinkable. But Bollywood was making lots of money then. Now, it is in the red. According to Indian news magazine Outlook, "the crisis-hit film industry" lost $930 million (Cdn.) between (Nov., 2001 and Nov., 2002). "The situation (was) so bad that experts (found) it difficult to put together a Top 10 for 2002." The number of Bollywood films that could be called hits dropped from an average of 15-20 per cent of the total to 7-8 per cent. Source: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035776990125&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 24 14:21:09 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 19:51:09 +0530 Subject: [icernet] World Media Trend : More newspapers charging for online editions Message-ID: <3E314BD5.6040604@vasnet.co.in> An estimated 21 newspapers are making readers pay to access their online content. Many free online newspapers are increasing their paid content sections as well, which can include anything from crossword puzzles to special online articles. The Wall Street Journal is one of the only paid news sites to make money off of its online subscriptions so far, but other papers are hoping to emulate WSJ.com's success. However, some analysts insist that few print subscribers would be willing to pay for online newspapers, while more would be willing to register for free access to news sites. However, many of these paid online sites will allow print subscribers to access their Web content at no additional charge. While other papers will let users read the daily news stories for free but offer Web subscriptions for special online content. Source: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1801782 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 24 14:21:48 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 19:51:48 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Cable TV industry deeply divided over pricing Message-ID: <3E314BFC.9080504@vasnet.co.in> Although the government will eventually decide on what should be the basic cost, the variation in pricing suggested by broadcasters and cable operators has created confusion among ordinary consumers. But there is overall agreement among broadcasters and cable operators that majority of Indian consumers will not pay more than Rs 200 for watching satellite television -- including pay channels, which have to be compulsorily viewed through a set top box. On the other hand, cable operators feel they will be out of business if the basic charges are fixed under Rs 40. Cable Networks Association (CNA), National Cable Television Association (NCTA) and Cable Operators Federation of India (COFI) have petitioned the government that the cost for an average of 500 subscribers works out to Rs 180 per month and cable TV homes should pay Rs 250 per subscriber per month to watch free to air channels. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=35305784 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 24 14:21:58 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 19:51:58 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Cyber Threats And You Message-ID: <3E314C06.5030001@vasnet.co.in> Ever since the unfortunate accident on September 11, 2001, the world in general, and the technical world in particular, has become overly concerned about cyber threats. A series of media reports have added to the paranoia in certain quarters. For example: Cyber crime leading to a reported loss of $ 43 billion by G-8 countries alone; reports of e-mails sent to all chosen heads of states from adolf@hitler.com; Pentagon sites undergoing Denial of Service (DOS) for three hours; Barc site getting hacked; reports of SMS from Veerappan! And even e-Jihad! In turn, this has led to extreme worry in some quarters. They are worried of a war with e-bombs; they want the design of cyber safety zones; they want governments to initiate an army of cyber soldiers; they want legislation to punish those committing cyber crimes; in turn, a cyber insurance industry would get created! Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=26594 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 24 14:24:36 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 19:54:36 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Reliance's real strategy Message-ID: <3E314CA4.5000208@vasnet.co.in> In 2004, Reliance Infocomm will offer broadband convergence (a combination of cable and internet data and telephony) to Indian homes. Dial up internet services will become passe. Youll also be able to download songs and video clips on your mobile phone at speeds that are over hundred times faster (at 100 megabytes per second) than internet dial up speeds. As a result, a family can video conference with relatives and friends across the world via a personal computer (PC) or television set. Movie fans can watch video on-demand on their PCs, on a TV set, plug into interactive TV or watch premium specialised channels. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/archives/2003/jan/50150103.077.asp From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 24 14:25:22 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 19:55:22 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Content's the key to success Message-ID: <3E314CD2.2090108@vasnet.co.in> The issue being debated was how to increase Indias share (US$ 5 billion) of the huge global M&E pie of US$ 1.2 trillion. What emerged was a consensus that we needed to improve our content and market it aggressively. In print, on air, in film, on stage, it is the word which counts. Content  a much abused term in the recent dotcom-tainted past  has always been the touchstone of any communication. From pre-historic cave paintings to an I-Max film, from a 30-second jingle to a never-ending soap opera, it is the story that moves. Style is (or at least should be) always subservient to substance. All media professionals endeavor to excite, entice, enthrall and engage people all the time. Yet success is usually elusive and mostly evanescent. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/archives/2003/jan/50150103.084.asp From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 26 15:16:30 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 20:46:30 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Corporates Field Pessimism With Freebies Message-ID: <3E33FBCE.40108@vasnet.co.in> Indian corporates are looking on the World Cup as a big business opportunity. Official sponsor PepsiCo began its World Cup promotions, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan, as early as October 2002. Today, with the tournament barely a fortnight away, the market is flooded with lucrative offers such as A Free Ticket To The World Cup and heavy spending on advertisement and other promotional activities. Corporate India is expected to spend around Rs 2,000 crore on promotions and advertisements for this years World Cup as compared to the around Rs 1,600 crore spent in 1999. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=26740 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 26 15:16:20 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 20:46:20 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Upgraded IP version ready for trials Message-ID: <3E33FBC4.4010000@vasnet.co.in> Stage set for carrying out IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) trials in India. "We feel that awareness has reached the saturation level among the industry and 2003 will be a year of trials," said Mr Hemanth Dattatreya, President, IPv6 Forum, India, which is on the forefront of creating awareness about IPv6. IPv6 is an upgrade of the existing Internet Protocol - IPv4, which is fast running out of global IP address space to accommodate the increasing number of Web sites. The IP addresses are currently being rationed and with increasing connectivity, it is expected that by 2010 all the available addresses will be consumed. Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/24/stories/2003012401440600.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 26 15:16:39 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 20:46:39 +0530 Subject: [icernet] The Devdas archetype Message-ID: <3E33FBD7.5000707@vasnet.co.in> When Sarat Chandra wrote his Devdas in 1917, he made an impression not just on the Bengalis but on the entire nation. Ever since, the novel has lent itself to 12 official screen adaptations, starting with the 1928 Naresh Mitter silent version. Going by the belief that an audience had to leave the theatre in a happy state of mind, early filmmakers ensured that their films concluded on a light-hearted note. Devdas is therefore probably the first Indian film which went against this convention. Source: http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEF20030125042020 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Mon Jan 27 14:42:18 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 20:12:18 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Cinema, cinema Message-ID: <3E35454A.9060008@vasnet.co.in> Say KBC and the image that comes to mind is that of Big B “locking” answers from contestants hoping to become “crorepatis”. In Pakistan too, this show on Star Plus gained immense popularity, proof of which comes from a recent Urdu film made there. Its name? Kaun Banega Crorepati. This hit Urdu film is just another example of Pakistani people’s craze for Bollywood movies. It also symbolises the strange relationship Mumbai film industry has with Pakistan. Though Hindi films are not legally permitted to be screened there, people use all means – mainly illegal, like pirated CDs and video cassettes – to watch their favourite stars perform even as the authorities turn a deliberate blind eye. Pakistani film-makers who are wary of allowing a free flow of Indian films in their country for the fear of “Bollywood invasion”, are however open to such tie-ups at various levels. Recently, Aijaz Gul of Pakistan’s National Film Development Corporation (NAFDEC) was in New Delhi to participate in the 4th Cinemaya Festival of Asian Cinema. Excerpts from an interview. Details at: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan26/at5.asp From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Mon Jan 27 14:42:32 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 20:12:32 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Watch Mr and Mrs Iyer Message-ID: <3E354558.8010806@vasnet.co.in> Every morning the newspaper is full of the latest act of violence or terrorism, but we simply shake our heads, and cluck, and simply get on with our day to day life. The chilling thing is that there is no outrage or deep anguish left anymore. Terrorism and communal violence have become for us no more than statistics. No more than paper and print, until, God forbid, it should hit us personally. Whether it is movies, the print media, or TV serials. Or politicians, academicians, NGOs. Even religious leaders, and captains of industry… It has now become the trend for every body to appropriate the appeal of patriotism and nationalism, and to project it at its most basic and fundamental level. Aparna Sen’s film will touch a chord in every Indian. It reminds us that if each one of us reaches into the humanity that lies within us, then no power on earth can spread hatred among us on narrow communal or chauvinistic grounds. And united by our humanity and brotherhood, we can then tackle the truly serious and vital issues of poverty and hunger. Source: http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEC20030125042610 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Mon Jan 27 14:42:38 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 20:12:38 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Jism paves way for erotica in Bollywood Message-ID: <3E35455E.5090902@vasnet.co.in> Bollywood seems to have its first hit of the year in a film that is candid about bodily passions. Jism, which opened to long queues on January 17, may have delivered a winning formula to the Hindi film industry -- sensual yet sensitive takes on erotica. Despite some poor reviews, the small-budget Rs 3.5-crore film has clung to its rock steady position at the box-office and is expected to make sizeable profits for Fisheye Network. Sexual promiscuity is being explored increasingly as a theme. The trend will perhaps climax this year when Pankaj Parasher unleashes his own version of Basic Instinct, one of Hollywood's most erotic thrillers that catapulted Sharon Stone to superstardom. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=35649851 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Mon Jan 27 14:42:44 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 20:12:44 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Bollywood has changed life for Indians abroad Message-ID: <3E354564.3080809@vasnet.co.in> Bloomsbury, one of the UK’s most respected publishers, has commissioned a young researcher called Jessica Hines to do a biography of Amitabh Bachchan. In their recently released book Cinema India (Oxford University Press; Rs 650), Rachel Dwyer, an academic at the London-based School of Oriental and African Studies, and Divya Patel have examined the impact of visuals in Bollywood. The book trade is buzzing with Bollywood; it is introducing aspects of India’s most pervasive – and persuasive – pop culture into the corridors of mainstream academia. The attention and the respectability that Bollywood had begun to garner in the West when Lagaan had had a crack at the Oscars last year has turned into a huge groundswell of popular support for and interest in the cinema that has sustained and defined India for so many years. Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_147043,0041.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Mon Jan 27 14:42:48 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 20:12:48 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Exclusive technical education channel launched Message-ID: <3E354568.40906@vasnet.co.in> In a major boost to distance education in the country, students will now have access to high quality tutorials in engineering and technical courses in the comfort of their homes through a dedicated technical education channel and four FM radio channels. Gyan Darshan III, a free-to-air technology education channel and four Gyan Vani FM Radio channels were launched by Union Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=35592081 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Mon Jan 27 14:45:09 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 20:15:09 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Is sex no longer a dirty word in Indian cinema? Message-ID: <3E3545F5.1090001@vasnet.co.in> Yes it is. Families are uncomfortable watching such intimacy on film: Karan Johar Film-maker I don't think the Indian film market is ready for explicit sex scenes just as yet. A sizable sector is made up of family audiences, many of whom are uncomfortable watching sexual intimacy on screen. We can neither ignore this sector, nor pressurise them into dropping their inhibitions. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=35499598 -------------------- No. Prudishness isn't a part of Indian cinema or the Indian psyche: Nikhat Kazmi Take your pick. Bollywood's trade journals carry two advertisements this week. One collates the first week collections of Jism and the other announces the forthcoming release of Pyaasa Jism. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=35499520 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Tue Jan 28 15:57:50 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 21:27:50 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Prasar bharati steps on the gas pedal Message-ID: <3E36A87E.6090301@vasnet.co.in> Revenue is the buzzword these days in broadcasting and media organisations. Everybody, from Zee to Sony and Star, is busy counting the green paper and unveiling initiatives to augment revenue. Prasar Bharati or Broadcasting Corporation of India has also joined the bandwagon. The autonomous body overseeing the functioning of Doordarshan and All India Radio, it seems, has realised that revenue is as important as playing the role of a public service broadcaster.So, in a bid to met its annual revenue target, Prasar Bharati has stepped on the gas pedal and is exploring newer pastures and opportunities, says Prasar Bharati chief executive KS Sarma, frankly admitting that DD has fallen short of its revenue targets. Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/vivacity1.asp?main_variable=MEDIA&file_name=med1%2Etxt&counter_img=1 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Tue Jan 28 15:57:46 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 21:27:46 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Devdas nominated for British Academy award Message-ID: <3E36A87A.5060907@vasnet.co.in> Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas, India's official entry for the Oscars, has been nominated in the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) this year while NRI director Gurinder Chadha's Bend It Like Beckham' has got nomination in the 'Outstanding British Film of the Year' category. Announcing the nominations here on Monday, Sir Ian McKellen, chief of BAFTA, said the musical Chicago and 19th century epic Gangs of New York have both received a remarkable 12 nominations at this year's BAFTA, including the best film and best director categories. Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_148814,0008.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Tue Jan 28 15:58:05 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 21:28:05 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Wipro Joins Global Think Tank On US E-governance Road Map Message-ID: <3E36A88D.4040905@vasnet.co.in> The Federal Enterprise Architect (FEA), a US government nodal agency, has set up a standards committee comprising seven big IT companies including Wipro to draw up a comprehensive strategy for e-governance activities. The project is expected to be monitored by US President George Bush, to whom the committees recommendation will be submitted for final approval, according to Dr Kalyan Chakravarthy who is the e-government evangelist of Wipro Technologies. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=26795 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Tue Jan 28 16:00:41 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 21:30:41 +0530 Subject: [icernet] 'Digital Signature could even replace physical signatures Message-ID: <3E36A929.6050809@vasnet.co.in> With a vision towards being a global power in information technology, India was quick to put an IT Act in place in the year 2000. India was also one of the few nations to have its own controller of certifying authorities (CCA) for digital signatures. K N Gupta took over the responsibility as Indias first controller in November 2000. In last two years, he was involved in setting up the root CAs technology infrastructure, creating regulatory framework and spreading awareness about digital signatures in various government departments. CCA has already given away four certifying authority (CA) licenses. Ashu Kumar of eFE caught up with him to find out the reasons behind the slow adoption of digital signatures and the future of the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology. Excerpts: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=26802 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 29 15:04:21 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 20:34:21 +0530 Subject: [icernet] There is `e' everywhere Message-ID: <3E37ED75.5030302@vasnet.co.in> Of the many wonders of information technology, none is more impressive than the prominence acquired by the little unassuming letter `e'. Until about 20 years ago, books for nursery classes, had only the picture of an elephant or egg associated with it. Nowadays, just the act of prefixing it to a verb or noun conjures up vistas of conquest of domains hitherto thought to be out of the purview of humans. Indeed, it has become universally fashionable to prefix it with anything that catches one's fancy. Its evolution into playing a powerful and ubiquitous role has been nothing short of amazing. Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/27/stories/2003012700070800.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 29 15:04:32 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 20:34:32 +0530 Subject: [icernet] World Media Trend: PCC provides tips for journalism students Message-ID: <3E37ED80.4020303@vasnet.co.in> The U.K.-based Press Complaints Commission (PCC) launched a new online section answering journalism students' questions about media ethics, photograph regulations and writing accuracy, HoldtheFrontPage reports. The independent review board also strives to resolve the public's media complaints, and this service seems to have a mounting need. "The growth in media studies courses at universities and the in-house work undertaken by publishers themselves, means that there is more interest than ever in the work of the PCC," said acting chairman Professor Robert Pinker. Source: http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/news/2003/online/030127pcc.shtml From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 29 15:04:14 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 20:34:14 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Now MTV clones Gandhi, chips away at Mahatma Message-ID: <3E37ED6E.40803@vasnet.co.in> This is one MTV show you will never get to watch in India but its sure to upset many. Because the MTV USA, all set to beam an animated series Clone High USA, is introducing G-Man, a clone of Mahatma Gandhi who dangles ear-rings, digs junk food, is the ultimate party animal and goes yo, yo man as he raps. Tushar Gandhi, the Mahatmas grandson, has written to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, asking him to take strict measures and Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande, while lodging her protest, has made it known Gandhi is so great that such pygmies who try to ridicule him will only fail. The MTV USA series is all about a group of scientists creating clones from DNA extracts of Gandhi, Buddha, Joan of Arc, J F Kennedy and Cleopatra. Ten years later, the clones gather for a high school meet and what follows is sheer misadventure. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=17449 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 29 15:04:40 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 20:34:40 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Mobile blogging could be the next big thing Message-ID: <3E37ED88.7040804@vasnet.co.in> Mobile weblogs could change the way customers exchange information and voice opinion. Mobile blogging, or moblogging, gives people the means to contribute to blogs via cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras and laptops. Such wireless devices give their users the power to go online and speak up no matter where they are. As Business 2.0 put it, moblogging "can turn any street corner, checkout line, or supermarket aisle into a multimedia complaint hotline." Technology is evolving to make it easy for people to moblog. Users of a new handheld device named Sidekick can easily get online and send text and pictures to Hiptop Nation, a mobile weblog. According to Business 2.0, some of those who contribute to the moblog are posting information or opinions about companies and products, from hyper-markets to chewing gum. Source: http://www.business2.com/articles/mag/0,1640,46208,00.html From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 29 15:15:02 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 20:45:02 +0530 Subject: [icernet] DigitalGovernance.org e-governance models Message-ID: <3E37EFF6.4060701@vasnet.co.in> Msg from vikas.nath@undp.org -------------------------------- Dear Colleagues at ICERnet, As a new subscriber to this list, I thought that I would share with you some information on the DigitalGovernance.org initiative. DigitalGovernance Initiative at http://www.digitalgovernance.org seeks to identify, research and propagate e-governance models which are of significance for developing countries. The underlying belief behind this initiative is that ICTs have an important role to play for developing countries and can act as a "tool" for bringing far-reaching changes- but only when applied in an innovative and customized manner. The idea is NOT to do everything with ICT but incorporate ICT in areas where they can prove to be most effective and where no other system may possibly work. In developing countries where alternate channels for obtaining government information are weak, and engaging with governance processes is a time consuming thing, ICT can open innovative opportunities to bring about good and people-centred governance. And this is the genesis of the DigitalGovernance.org Initiative. I hope you will have a look at this initiative and I look forward to your feedback on the same. Best regards, Vikas Nath (Inlaks Scholar, LSE, UK) (Founder, DigitalGovernance.org and KnowNet.org Initiative) Policy Analyst Office of Development Studies/UNDP 336 East 45 Street New York NY 10017 USA Tel: +1 212 906 3689 Fax: +1 212 906 3676 Email: vikas.nath@undp.org URL: http://www.vikasnath.org From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 30 14:39:39 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 20:09:39 +0530 Subject: [icernet] AP Government Launches e-Procurement Marketplace Message-ID: <3E39392B.2090205@vasnet.co.in> In tune with the ongoing ‘tender reforms’ initiated at the state level, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced the formal launch of “e-procurement marketplace” in the state for all kinds of government purchases, valued Rs 1 crore and above. After launching the online tender processing portal christened e-procurement.gov.in, the roads and buildings minister T Nageswara Rao said that this initiative will enhance the efficiency of all the government departments by offering faster and more transparent and automated procurement procedures. The online tendering process will save at least 5 to 10 per cent in the financial value of the tender, besides it will give a benefit of over 70 per cent of time-saving. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=26963 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 30 14:39:29 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 20:09:29 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Trai For Cheaper Internet Services Message-ID: <3E393921.3080408@vasnet.co.in> Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) chairman MS Verma said on Wednesday that making the Internet cheaper to use was on Trais priority list. From April 2003, basic phone pulse rates will be slashed by Trai from 180 seconds to 120 seconds, increasing Internet dial-up rates significantly. A consumer who buys an hour of dial-up Internet access today at Rs 24, will pay Rs 36 under the new pulse rate. As a result, dial-up Internet subscriptions are set to become as costly as always-online cable connections which currently cost between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 a month excluding a one-time installation charge of about Rs 2,500. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=26953 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 30 14:39:50 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 20:09:50 +0530 Subject: [icernet] STAR tips to make beautiful TV journalists Message-ID: <3E393936.3030101@vasnet.co.in> Ahead of the April launch of the much talked about Hindi news channel of Rupert Murdoch-owned STAR, the journalists are being groomed. Training them are Birla Corporates -- the same people who train airhostesses, models and also Miss Indias. They are not just teaching the journalists simple manners and etiquettes but also giving them valuable advice on their wardrobe. Senior journalists were shocked to learn about the training. Said Kuldip Nayar: "This is disappointing. Journalism is a business of intellect, and looking good is not important at all. In such a scenario journalism will surely take a backseat and surrender to the exigencies of the show business." Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_150757,0008.htm From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 30 14:40:01 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 20:10:01 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Home Ministry's comments awaited for uplinking foreign TV news Message-ID: <3E393941.9090503@vasnet.co.in> Information and Broadcasting Ministry is awaiting "comments" from the Home Ministry for providing uplinking facilities to foreign Television news channels from Indian soil, outgoing Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj said. Swaraj had earlier said that Government's decision on the Star TV proposal for permission to uplink from Indian soil will apply to all news channels with foreign equity. News channels uplinking from India would have to adhere to the foreign equity cap stipulated by the Government in case it decides on changes in the present policy on uplinking. Swaraj said that there were 77 channels uplinked from the country and "every day we are getting applications". She said that the Government's decision to allow FDI in non-news and non-current affairs would bring about a boom in the print industry. PTI 30 Jan 2003 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 30 14:40:20 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 20:10:20 +0530 Subject: [icernet] Gory scenes cut from reality TV shows Message-ID: <3E393954.8090709@vasnet.co.in> India's first 24-hour reality TV channel will go on air next week but hospital scenes with gory operations are being cut to accommodate local "sensibilities". "There are certain sensibilities involved in the Indian market," said Chris Sharp, managing director of Zone Vision, which has brought its Reality TV cable channel to India through Zee Turner. Zee Turner is a distribution alliance between Turner International (India) Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner, and the Zee Group. Cable television reaches 40 million subscribers in India and is growing at 10 percent each year. Zone Vision Enterprises, established in 1991, broadcasts its Reality TV shows in 16 languages over 110 territories, Sharp said. In India programming will be in Hindi. The encrypted channel, which has more than 1,000 hours of programming, targets audiences aged between 16 and 34 and showcases police work. Source: http://news.sify.com/cgi-bin/sifynews/news/content/news_fullstory_v2.jsp?article_oid=12569270 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 31 17:43:35 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 23:13:35 +0530 Subject: [icernet] New I&B Minister Has Key Issues To Sort Message-ID: <3E3AB5C7.2040409@vasnet.co.in> Despite former information and broadcasting minister (I&B) Sushma Swaraj’s claims of significant achievements, there is a lot her successor Ravi Shankar Prasad has on his plate.Conditional access system (CAS), which would enable TV viewers to watch pay channels of their choice through set top box, is among the many policies yet to be thrashed out and implemented.Besides CAS, Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasting is still to begin. Two DTH applications—from Space TV (with Star backing) and ASC (Zee group)—have been pending with the government for months now. Also, the foreign investment regulation for television uplinking is up for change. FM privatisation in the second phase, broadcasting bill, anti-piracy laws are some of the other issues which are likely to keep the new minister busy for some time. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=27041 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 31 17:44:16 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 23:14:16 +0530 Subject: [icernet] To crack down on e-crime, Govt plans cyberpatrol Message-ID: <3E3AB5F0.8020809@vasnet.co.in> To counter cyberterror threats, the government plans to get cracking by April a Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team (CERT) India which will serve as a nodal agency for tracking cybercrimes across the country and digging their origins. The CERT will look at the vulnerability of government electronic sytems — e-governance, e-learning and e-security — to threats from hackers and denial of service rights through cyber techniques. The Prime Minister’s Office has already created five committees to go into various security issues. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=17568 From arulselvan@vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 31 17:44:24 2003 From: arulselvan@vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 23:14:24 +0530 Subject: [icernet] AIR To Lengthen Life Of Short Wave Radio Message-ID: <3E3AB5F8.1020902@vasnet.co.in> At a time when short wave analogue radio is on its way out all over the world, All India Radio (AIR) is all set for a relaunch of its National Channel on short wave. Surprisingly, even the working group on the information and broadcasting sector for the Tenth Plan had recommended that short wave should be phased out, citing poor reception quality. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=27042 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 1 18:21:06 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] When `creative' came under pressure... Message-ID: <42122.203.90.115.194.1041463266.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> This has been a rather brutal year (2002) for the advertising industry, with smaller budgets, and a demand for greater accountability. One section, in particular, has suffered quietly; the creative folk, typically regarded as spoilt and difficult, have also felt the heat. Source: http://thehindubusinessline.com/2002/12/31/stories/2002123102010600.htm From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Wed Jan 1 18:22:15 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Bollywood or bust Message-ID: <42572.203.90.115.194.1041463335.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> 2002 was annus horribilis for Bollywood. Whether it was the media spotlight on Hindi film industry's links with the underworld, or cumulative losses suffered by filmmakers to the tune Rs 300 crore, or even controversies like those generated by Ek Chhoti Si Love Story, the year gone by was one in which India's answer to Hollywood made news for all the wrong reasons. Source: http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=EDITS&file_name=edit2%2Etxt&counter_img=2 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 18:26:26 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Tara Marathi Shuts Shop Message-ID: <63723.203.90.115.194.1041549986.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Tara Marathi has shut operations as Eternal Dreams, which was handling the management of the channel incurred severe losses. Rathikant Basu-promoted Broadcast Worldwide, which started the Tara group of regional channels, had entered into an agreement with Eternal Dreams to contract the management of the Marathi channel for three years.Tara?s regional language channels in Punjabi and Gujarati had already shut shop long back. Rathikant Basu-promoted Broadcast Worldwide ran its regional channels under Tara (Television Aimed at Regional Audiences).But the channels faced rough weather soon as Star refused to distribute the channels. Besides, the plan to come out with an initial public offering (IPO) also did not materialise. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25029 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 18:30:32 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Newsmarket To Launch Its Services In Jan Message-ID: <32922.203.90.115.194.1041550232.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Newsmarket Inc, an online platform for downloading broadcast standard video over the Internet, will formally launch its services in India in January, 2003.For half-hour of content archiving and distribution, The Newsmarket charges around $20,000. The TV journalists can source this content on the web and use the footage free of charge. TV stations will need a T-online broadband connection to the Internet. Bollywood producers can use the service of The Newsmarket, to archive and distribute their content to the TV stations in the US and Europe. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=24810 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 18:36:48 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Doordarshan to introduce DTH telecast in North-East Message-ID: <36183.203.90.115.194.1041550608.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Doordarshan is planning to introduce direct-to-home telecast of its programmes in the North-East while strengthening its marketing network to earn higher advertisement revenues commensurate with its nationwide reach. The national broadcaster would introduce DTH telecast through KU band in eight states, including Sikkim, in the region, the Doordarshan director-general S Y Quraishi told reporters here. For other regions, he said, two private channels - Star and Zee - have applied for DTH and the proposals are before the Union cabinet. Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?gid=&id=107859 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 18:38:08 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] 2003 - `Year of the Multimedia' Message-ID: <36766.203.90.115.194.1041550688.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Poised for growth in India, Multimedia's usage has expanded in films, television, animation, gaming, music, Internet, digital products and services. A Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) report projects revenues from the entertainment industry (includes films, TV and Music) to double to $6 billion by 2006. Moreover, the thrust on the multimedia segment is visible with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) declaring 2002-03 as the `Year of the Multimedia'. Requirements in these segments include supervisors, animators, compositors and programmers. Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/01/01/stories/2003010102401600.htm From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 18:58:19 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Suggestive ads: Do they work? Message-ID: <46246.203.90.115.194.1041551899.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> DOES showing flesh really help? From branded paper to inane car batteries, from liquor brands to UPS systems, advertisers are increasingly portraying scantily-clad women to hardsell all kinds of products. Source: http://blonnet.com/2003/01/01/stories/2003010102050600.htm From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Thu Jan 2 19:01:39 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Ad industry turns its back on 2002 - Hopes New Year will bring better times Message-ID: <47710.203.90.115.194.1041552099.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> According to the 12th A&M Agency report, the ad industry registered a growth rate of 23.49 per cent for the year 2000-01. Insiders believe the industry may show a marginal growth this year; one of the few bright spots was the apparent success of the fledgling media buying agencies. Source: http://blonnet.com/2003/01/01/stories/2003010102070600.htm From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 17:38:46 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Living Media seeks nod for niche publication Message-ID: <65340.203.90.115.194.1041633526.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Taking advantage of the government?s shift in policy on print media, Living Media has sent in a second application to the ministry of information and broadcasting to start an Indian edition of the Scientific American. It had earlier sent in the first application under the liberalised policy for the Indian edition of the sports speciality magazine, Golf Digest, published in the US.Scientific American is a renowned magazine on science and technology and has been in publication for 150 years. It is known to chronicle major discoveries and inventions, most often authored by people involved in the work. Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=33202182 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 17:41:53 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Introspection sums up Bollywood mood Message-ID: <33672.203.90.115.194.1041633713.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> For the industry, which lost Rs 300 crore in 2002 alone, the multi-crore question is: What ails Bollywood? Of the 226 movies released last year, 90 per cent bombed with only two, Raaz and Devdas managing to prove their mettle at the box office. Weak scripts and high production costs, said a cross-section of industry's people. "About 90 per cent of the industry's misfortunes could be attributed to poor scripts," said film trade analyst Komal Nahata. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=33207332 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 17:46:36 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Technological channel for technical courses Message-ID: <35896.203.90.115.194.1041633996.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The new technology channel will be part of the educational TV, Gyan Darshan scheduled to starts its broadcasting from forthcoming 26th January. To begin with, the new technology channel will focus on engineering courses as taught at the undergraduate level. The government has recently lunched its programme, National programme for distance and web-based education in technology. As part of this initiative, courseware will be developed for engineering colleges in the web and video format. The material will be developed by premier institutions of science and technology, such as the IITs and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=32802525 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 17:48:01 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] I&B Ministry to introduce 3 Bills in budget session Message-ID: <36533.203.90.115.194.1041634081.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> Flushed with the success of having piloted three policy changes in the media sector in 2002, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry is working overtime to introduce three legislations that seek to monitor print and broadcasting sectors, besides check piracy, in the coming budget session of Parliament. Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/01/02/stories/2003010201441300.htm From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 17:50:36 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Animation Industry Eyes Govt Funds; Plans Training Institute Message-ID: <37511.203.90.115.194.1041634236.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Indian animation industry is working out an organised funding structure based on international models. Taiwan and Korea are among the countries which are being closely monitored by the Animation Producers Association of India (APAI) for an effective funding model.Another key issue being addressed by APAI is training. So far, there is not even a single training institute in India dedicated to animation, as against 60 animation colleges in Korea. Also, Korea is aiming for 40,000 animators in the next five years. According to an APAI founder member Biren Ghose, to begin with, one high-quality animation institute is being planned. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25095 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 3 17:53:20 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] 'India well-placed in animation market' Message-ID: <38846.203.90.115.194.1041634400.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The Indian animation market, fairly static until a year ago, has positioned itself as a significant provider of animation production (pre and post) services, according to a survey done by the National Association of Software & Service Companies (Nasscom) recently. In its latest survey, Nasscom said the Indian animation market is suddenly waking up to a host of global opportunities that promise a lot of action for the country?s leading design specialists. Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25094 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 13:31:11 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Why are Indian talking heads bla(h)se? Message-ID: <3E17E647.8000301@vasnet.co.in> Consider the airtime rates: says Yash Khanna, senior vice-president, Star TV, Around 30-minute air time on popular programmes like Kyunki Saas is sold for an estimated Rs 30 lakh, whereas a similar slot on a general talk show is priced at around Rs 50,000. Thats the ratio on other channels as well because the bottomline is that celebrity hosts leave Indian viewers cold. Most of the shows, whether in the entertainment category or news and current affairs-based programmes like Big Fight, Question Hour (see chart), have been generating extremely poor television rating points (TRPs). Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=33400065 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 13:31:00 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Book Review: A Real Look At The Virtual World Message-ID: <3E17E63C.7060203@vasnet.co.in> The Internet hype is dead, long live the Internet. That seems to be the message that keeps flashing through Get A Digital Life: An Internet Reality Check, like popup windows that keep re-appearing on your screen as soon as you close them down. But whether you are a retailer, manufacturer or in the service industry, ignore this message at your own peril. For, far from running down the power of the World Wide Web, authors Jim Carroll and Rick Broadhead are passionate believers in the power it holds to transform your world. After all, the passion that went out of fashion after the dotcom disaster (that made megabillions look like small change and actually turned them into it), the pendulum swung to the other extreme. The same media that had made heroes out of idea-millionaires who ?created? virtual wealth and destroyed real money in ?Internet time? (another concept that the authors delight in debunking), were now declaring that the Internet was finished. What makes the book an interesting read is the clinically dispassionate manner in which the duo conduct the post-mortem of the boom and doom years of the Net without making villains or heroes out of the characters that played questionable roles in pumping up the bubble. Clearly a product of long hours of painstaking research spread over more than a year, the book is liberally peppered with interesting statistics, facts and samples of fiction that were taken for fact while the ?idea virus? was on a rampage. Get A Digital Life?An Internet Reality Check by Jim Carrol & Rick Broadhead; Macmillan India; Rs 198; Pp 221 Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=25243 From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 13:31:20 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] 'Newspapers suffering due to Govt. policies' Message-ID: <3E17E650.30106@vasnet.co.in> The president of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), Abhay Chaglani, today said there was a crisis in the newspaper industry and charged the Government with doing nothing to make things easier for the print media. Newspapers were suffering due to the policies of the Government on the one side and competition among themselves and from the television channels on the other, he said. Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/01/05/stories/2003010505571100.htm From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 13:31:28 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Indian TV channels slug it out Message-ID: <3E17E658.1080202@vasnet.co.in> There is lot of action happening behind the small screens that are perennially lit up in Indian homes. The TV channels are going all out to grab a larger share of the ratings, and, by extension, the advertising pie. In the process, they are not hesitating to try any trick in the book - and some not in it. Among other tactics, the channels are inflating their ratings, bringing in seasoned marketing veterans from other industries to head their operations, tying up with movie production companies and pinching seasoned professionals from competitors. Source: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EA04Df01.html From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Sun Jan 5 13:31:36 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Sahib singh advocates justice for scribes Message-ID: <3E17E660.30406@vasnet.co.in> Calling for a fearless and honest journalism for strengthening Indian democracy, Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma today said he would see that journalists working in newspapers got justice. "It is regretable that reports of wage boards fixing wages for working journalists were not (not) implemented by all the newspapers in the country," Verma said. Weakening of newspapers in the country would not (not) be healthy sign for the country and it would be desirable that newspapers shun commercialism and remain uneffected by politics, he said. Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=109532 From jhuns at vt.edu Tue Jan 7 10:46:21 2003 From: jhuns at vt.edu (jeremy hunsinger) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Call for Papers - Internet Research 4.0: Broadening the Band - 4th Annual AoIR Conference Message-ID: <2B0A28B0-2257-11D7-A0A3-0003931A63CC@vt.edu> >> apologies for cross-posting >> >> [please distribute widely] >> >> Call for Papers - IR 4.0: Broadening the Band >> International and Interdisciplinary Conference of the Association of >> Internet Researchers in Toronto, Ontario, Canada October 16-19 >> >> Lead organizer Knowledge Media Design Institute at the University of >> Toronto >> >> Submission site opens: January 15, 2003 >> Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2003 >> >> Conference Website: >> http://www.aoir.org/2003 | http://www.ecommons.net/aoir >> >> >> Digital communications networks such as the Internet are changing the >> way people interact with each other, with profound effects on social >> relations and institutions. Yet many remain excluded from access and >> meaningful participation. It is timely to consider who is included, >> who is excluded and what we now know about the composition and >> activities of online communities. >> >> Internet Research (IR) 4.0 will feature a variety of perspectives on >> Internet, organized under the theme Broadening the Band. As in >> previous conferences, the aim is to develop a coherent theoretical >> and pragmatic understanding of the Internet and those that are >> empowered and disenfranchised by it. IR 4.0 will bring together >> prominent scholars, researchers, creators, and practitioners from >> many disciplines, fields and countries for a program of >> presentations, panel discussions, and informal exchanges. >> >> IR 4.0 will take place at the Hilton Hotel in the heart of downtown >> Toronto. The conference is hosted by a team led by the Knowledge >> Media Design Institute (KMDI) and its partners at the University of >> Toronto. The IR 4.0 steering and working committees reflect the >> growing pan-Canadian network of Internet researchers, including >> members from Quebec, Alberta, and New Brunswick, in addition to the >> local contingent from Toronto, York and Ryerson Universities. >> >> This year's theme, Broadening the Band, encourages wide participation >> from diverse disciplines, communities, and points of view. Under the >> umbrella theme, contributors are called to reflect upon, theorize and >> articulate what we know from within the emerging interdisciplinary >> space known as Internet Research. >> >> In a cultural sense, the theme calls attention to the need to examine >> access, inclusion and exclusion in online communities. What role do >> race, gender, class, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, age, >> geography, and other factors play in the degree of online >> participation? What are the indicators of meaningful participation? >> >> In a technical sense, the theme points to the development of >> broadband, wireless and post-internet networks and applications that >> are currently coming on-stream including community, private, public >> as well as national research networks (e.g. CA*net 4, Internet 2). We >> plan to use these technologies to make the conference an >> internet-mediated and internationally accessible event. >> >> In an organizational sense, the theme reflects a widening of AoIR's >> reach to include more researchers and constituencies involved in the >> evolution of the Internet. French language presentations will be >> included in the call for papers for the first time. Researchers and >> practitioners in the arts and culture sectors are encouraged to >> participate alongside social scientists and humanities scholars and >> researchers. >> >> In a thematic sense, "Broadening the Band" suggests widening the >> scope of topics and problematics considered within past conferences, >> while retaining the consistent emphasis on rigorous research work. >> This call for papers thus initiates an inclusive search for >> theoretical and methodological correspondences between this expanding >> theme and the many disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches that >> are required to address it with precision. >> >> Possible Topics: >> - Who is bridging what: questions and answers on the digital divide >> - New directions in digital art >> - E-me, e-you? (E- Health, E-Governance, E-Commerce,E-Business, >> E-games, E-entertainment, E-other) >> - Ethnicity, Race, Identity, Gender, Sexuality, Language(s) and >> Diverse Cultural Contexts Online >> - Who Decides: Ethics, Law, Politics and Policy of the Internet >> - We can't measure that, can we? Meaningful Indicators for Internet >> Access, Participation, Use and Effects >> - Who owns what? Value, Space, and Commons on the Internet >> - Is there an Author, a Publisher, or writing on the internet? >> - Transformed by Technics: New Technologies and The Post-Internet Age >> - Who is watching your computer, when You're not watching it.... >> - When we are glocal: the internet in global and local manifestations >> - I put my lesson plans on the internet, what changed? Teaching, >> Learning and the Internet >> - Digital media and terror/ism: global flows, economies, and >> surveillance >> - Social movements, net-based activism, and hactivism in a global >> arena >> - Which methods, whose theories? determining approaches to internet >> research >> - Why did we digitize that, and what's it worth? Exploring the value >> of digital content >> >> This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to trigger ideas >> and encourage submissions from a range of disciplines. The organizers >> will take an active role in generating and joining the various >> interests into appropriate formats. >> >> >> Submission of Proposals >> >> The Association of Internet Researchers invites paper, presentation, >> and panel proposals from AoIR members and non-members on topics that >> address social, cultural, political, economic, and aesthetic aspects >> of the Internet. We welcome interdisciplinary submissions as well as >> submissions from within specific disciplines. French language >> presentations will be included in the call for papers for the first >> time. We especially seek panel proposals that establish connections >> across disciplines, institutions, and/or continents. We also >> encourage creative presentations that will make use of Internet >> technologies and artistic techniques. Proposals for papers should be >> in the form an approximately 500-750 word abstract. Creative >> presentations and demonstration projects should consist of an >> approximately 500-750 word abstract, plus brief illustrative >> material. Panels will generally include three to four papers or >> presentations. The panel organizer should submit an approximately 500 >> word statement describing the session topic, include abstracts of up >> to 250 words for each paper or presentation, and indicate that each >> author is willing to participate in the session. Abstracts and >> proposals may be submitted for review in English or in French. >> >> Papers, presentations and panels will be selected from the submitted >> abstracts on the basis of peer review, coordinated and overseen by >> the Program Chair, assisted by sub-chairs with expertise in specific >> areas of scholarly and aesthetic knowledge relating to the Internet. >> >> Proposals can be for three types of contribution to the conference: - >> papers, creative presentations, and panels. Each person is invited to >> submit a proposal for 1 paper or 1 presentation. People may also >> propose a panel of papers or presentations, of which their personal >> paper or presentation must be a part. Average time allotted for a >> paper or creative presentation will be 20 minutes. Average time >> allotted for a panel will be 1 hour and 30 minutes, including >> discussion time. >> >> Detailed information about format of submission and review is >> available at the conference website http://www.aoir.org/2003. All >> proposals must be submitted electronically at >> http://www2.cddc.vt.edu/confman/ (_note_ - submission site opens >> January 15, 2003). >> >> Deadlines: >> >> Submission site available: January 15, 2003 >> Final date for proposal submission: March 1, 2003 >> Author notification: April 1, 2003 >> Presenter's Registration to the conference: September 1, 2003 >> Student Award: Completed paper: September 1, 2003 >> >> Graduate Students: >> >> Graduate students are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. They >> should note their student status with submission in order to be >> considered for a special Student Award. Students wishing to be a >> candidate for the Student Award must also send a final paper by 1st >> September 2003. >> >> Canadian graduate students outside of central Canada should note that >> funds may be available for travel and subsistence. Notice will be >> sent out to the AoIR list as soon as funding commitments are >> confirmed. >> >> To ensure diverse participation, registration fees will be kept low >> for presenters, and a billeting and room sharing system will be >> established. Simultaneous French language translation will be >> available (subject to budgetary considerations) in certain sessions. >> >> >> Pre-Conference Workshops >> >> Prior to the conference, there will be a limited number of >> pre-conference workshops which will provide participants with >> in-depth, hands-on and/or creative opportunities. We invite proposals >> for these pre-conference workshops; local presenters are encouraged >> to propose workshops that will invite visiting researchers into their >> labs or studios or locales. Proposals should be no more than 1000 >> words, and should clearly outline the purpose, methodology, >> structure, costs, equipment and minimal attendance required, as well >> as explaining its relevance to the conference as a whole. Proposals >> will be accepted if they demonstrate that the workshop will add >> significantly to the overall program in terms of thematic depth, >> hands on experience, or local opportunities for scholarly or artistic >> connections. These proposals and all inquires regarding >> pre-conference proposals should be submitted as soon as possible to >> the Conference Chair aoir@ecommons.net, and will be accepted up to >> June 15th. Notification of terms and space allocations will be sent >> out as soon as details are confirmed, with final acceptance required >> by June 30, 2003. >> >> >> >> CONTACT INFORMATION >> >> If you have questions about the conference, program, or AoIR, please >> contact: >> >> Program Chair: Matthew Allen, Curtin University of Technology, >> Australia >> m.allen@curtin.edu.au >> - All inquiries on review and acceptances >> >> Program Co-chair: David Mitchell, University of Calgary >> mitchell@ucalgary.ca >> - Inquiries on conference themes and special technology themes >> >> Conference Chair: Liss Jeffrey, Knowledge Media Design Institute and >> McLuhan Program, University of Toronto >> aoir@ecommons.net >> - All inquiries on Toronto conference and pre-conference workshops >> >> Associate coordinator: Katherine Parrish, OISE/University of Toronto >> aoir@ecommons.net >> >> AoIR President: Steve Jones >> sjones@uic.edu >> >> Association Website: http://www.aoir.org >> >> Conference Website: http://www.aoir.org/2003 | >> http://www.ecommons.net/aoir >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Air-l mailing list >> Air-l@aoir.org >> http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l >> jeremy hunsinger jhuns@vt.edu on the ibook www.cddc.vt.edu www.cddc.vt.edu/jeremy () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments From arulselvan at vasnet.co.in Fri Jan 10 12:10:01 2003 From: arulselvan at vasnet.co.in (Arul Selvan) Date: Tue Jan 4 13:40:47 2005 Subject: [icernet] Cell Population Crosses 1 Crore Message-ID: <2580.203.200.122.46.1042218601.squirrel@mail.vasnet.co.in> The number of cellular su