February 13, 2011
School of Communication, Coimbatore
 

Students of the Amrita School of Communication (ASCOM) started their new semester with an interaction with one of the top editors of the country.
 

Mr. Radhakrishnan Nair, Chief Executive Editor, CNN-IBN, addressed ASCOM students at the Coimbatore campus on December 27, 2010.
 

Speaking on a wide range of issues from current affairs to ethical media practices, Mr. Nair also highlighted industry expectations from new recruits.
 

“The only real qualification needed for a journalist is passion and nothing else,” he remarked.
 

With an experience of over two decades in the field of journalism, Mr. Nair has seen many changes in the industry.
 

Sharing his thoughts on ethical media practices, he stated that ethics have taken a complete back seat in these modern times.
 

“Twenty years ago, we could see ethics in journalism,” he stated. “Today it is not very easy to be ethical as a journalist; too many things come in the way.”
 

A question-answer session with the students followed.
 

Displaying their curiosity about current affairs, students asked questions on a wide range of topics including the price rice of onions, Suresh Kalmadi, Wikileaks, 26/11 and Nira Radia.
 

As students shot question after question, Mr. Nair patiently answered, a tinge of humor and a smile illuminating insightful answers.
 

“Why does the CNN in the US always report pro-American stories?” one student asked. “Why did they not highlight issues facing Iraq?”
 

Mr. Nair answered the question with a counter-question. “In a war between India and Pakistan, will you cover issues facing Pakistan?” he asked.
 

“The lecture was very informative,” stated Anita Anil, final-year student of B.A. (Mass Communication). “The best part was the question and answer round which was very interesting and interactive.”
 

Added Abinaya R., first-year student of M.A. (Communication), “He was very open and accepted the flaws in the media today.”