The use of and abuse of leisure

Leisure is a source of refreshment and relaxation, entertainment and enjoyment. This is what differentiates a man from a machine. A machine can be run or put to work for all the time, but a man cannot toil at a stretch and for a long time. Human beings are social animals who need to spend some time on themselves through indulgence in creative and recreational activities.

Leisure is an escape from toiling and a relief from monotony and boredom. The way we spend leisure depends on our likes and dislikes, and the type of our personality. Some use leisure to their benefit, while some idle it away. Students must not while away their leisure at a lazy pace. In the present competitive times, students are burdened with studies and stressed by performance pressure. They are hardly left with free time for any creative pursuit. If they fortunately get some leisure, they should make the most of it. Playing on musical instruments, singing, dancing, swimming, reading story books, diary writing etc are leisurely activities with creative value, edifying lessons and entertainment aspects.

With the changing lifestyle of urban youngsters in metropolitan cities, the definition of leisure has been completely changed. It has been downgraded from creative activities to mere entertainment like catching movies in multiplexes, visiting shopping malls and hanging out with friends and playing virtual games.

Leisure is the time for creative and mediation. During this time we can think deeply, explore innovative ideas, meditate our mental living and wonder at the beautiful things of nature in our surroundings. We can sight many examples of the fruitful use of leisure from the past. Isaac Newton while sitting lazily in the garden wondered why the apple fell to the ground; why it didn't rise up towards the sky. Then he discovered the laws of gravitational force. William Wordsworth used to get flooded with creative thoughts while wondering at the beauty of nature.

by Sayan Biswas, Aditya Academy 

One day at the Shaymbazar Crossing Kolkata

Today I went to Shyambazar on an errand. When I reached Shyambazar, I was at a loss to see the five – route crossing. I didn’t know the exact way where I was going to buy my school uniform. So I got down from the auto and stood near the crossing. It was noon; the sun was shining brightly over the head. Just imagine how hot the day was!

It was my first visit to the place which is one of the crowded centers of Kolkata. So many buses, vehicles were plying the entire area teaming up with traffic. The traffic jam was being controlled by the traffic police. It was very troublesome for the pedestrians to cross the busy roads. The place was abuzz with a mix of different kinds of noise.

There were many stalls-juice sellers, magazine stalls newspaper stalls and other-near the entrance of the roads. Seeing the crowd around me, I felt suffocated I approached a traffic controller and enquired him about shops. I felt relieved when I came back home. However the picture of congestion, crowd and chaos at Shyambazaar was lying heavy on my mind.


by Debanjan, Class IX, Hariyana Vidya Mandir 

My celebration of 31st December in Kolkata to share with you

Kolkata tops the list of Indian cities known for their festive ambience on 31^st December; the last day of the year. The celebration of the day to ring out the old and ring in the new is full of thrills and spills in the city of Kolkata. Kolkata a cosmopolitan city metropolis cheers in the evening and chills out the night on 31^st December with so much gusto as if there is no tomorrow. 

The entirety of Kolkata soaks in the joyous spirit of 31^st December. The jovial celebration of the day as ceremonious festivity has become one with the identity of Kolkatans, irrespective of their caste, religion and language. Nicco Park, Millennium Park, City Center, South City, Nandan, Nalban, Park Street, and Esplanade are the places across the cityscape where the joyous mode runs high on 31^st December.

Very few people stay indoors resisting the attraction of joy and pleasure outside. I too go out. On 31^st December evening this year, I went out to visit the New Market area and Park Street with my parents. These two elite places in the heart of the city receive thousands of footfalls. It is a pleasure to be part of the cheering crowd. Both New Market and Park Street were decorated with colorful lights as new brides. Many were hanging out; many were queuing up for entry to restaurants; many were surrounding roadside food stalls. There was so much to see, so much to feel and so much to wonder at that it can’t be summed up in a few words. New Market and Park Street became beautiful fairgrounds where there was no roller-coaster though; the revelers were on a fun ride.

The tempo of these two places continued till wee hours. Though we came back before it was 12 at night, I was under the fascination of the 31^st December outing.  

Does Media Thrive on Sensationalism

The scenario of commercial industries such as media, IT, hospitality and likes is highly competitive. The adage “Strike the iron when it is hot” is one of the key secrets to survival in the current dog-eat-dog world. Media is no exception. Sensationalism is the new-age success recipe in the field of print and digital journalism.

Both digital media and print media are neck-and-neck in competition for a lion’s share of the market. Print newspapers are engaged in a rat race for increasing their own circulation. Advertisement is the chief source of revenue for a print media house. A newspaper needs to extend its circulation in order to get more advertisements. Evidently, print media sensationalize news and serve it as a spicy dish for the readers to feed on. 

Digital media is steps ahead of print media when it comes to practicing sensationalism. Television news channels or digital media companies are racing against each other at a break-neck speed for higher TRP. Sensationalism is the only way out for them.

What is sensationalism in the media world? It refers to emotionalizing news to appeal to the soft corners of human minds. It is somewhat akin to emotional branding. Or, to say precisely, sensationalizing news is adding to the excitement or hype around an interesting or shocking event.

At present, media sensationalism is running high centering round the fire incident at an AMRI Hospital in Kolkata. TV journalists are using their camera lens to capture and print journalists are using their pens to write on the pictures of damage caused by fire and the public outcry against the hospital authority.

Every news channel and every daily is dishing out stories focused on the angst and anguish, grief and grievance of the victims’ families. Such news stories rich in emotional elements click with the audience. To some extent, it is necessary to highlight the pictures of public outcry against the at-fault authority, so that the responsible may taste the bitter fruit of its unjust action. Sometimes media sensationalism takes a toll on the emotional health of readers, though.

Peepli Live produced by Amir Khan is the latest and best reference to how media thrives on sensationalism around a poor farmer’s plan to commit suicide.        

Is Pen still mightier than Sword?

“Pen is mightier than sword”. It is an age-old maxim. The significance of the maxim is immense and undeniable. Pen is a symbol of creation, while sword symbolizes destruction. Pen is a source of creative activities whereas sword is a means of destructivity. Sword proves to be as mighty as pen when it is used for a good cause. Sword can be used in a rebellion against autocracy and a movement against iniquity. The purpose of using sword may be humanitarian, but it causes violence and bloodshed.       

Mahatma Gandhi who is regarded as the father of nation in India had taken up pen to write in protest against the exploitation of Black Africans during the Apartheid era. He started writing articles for newspapers and journals to mobilize public opinion in support of his crusade against social injustices as well as political iniquities. Thus, pen is a powerful tool of journalism.   

One’s literary activity finds a concrete expression in words through pen. Mahasweta Devi, an eminent writer and activist of Bengal, penned down her voice in protest against the rape of women in “Choli ke Peeche” one of her powerful short stories. Italo Spinelli, a film and documentary maker from Italy, adapted the story into a sensitive movie “Gangor”. The movie was shown at the recent 17^th Kolkata Film Festival.

Pen is a multi-functional tool. It creates, innovates and inspires. Pen can create controversies and bring about an upheaval. Using this powerful tool, writers, activists and journalists can mobilize the mass and bring about a change in the current social-political state of the nation. For example, Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses had infuriated the whole Islamic world.

Swords leave nothing but wounds and painful memories behind. Sword stands for war, a bloody game. Hiroshima and Nagasaki are among the worst victims of warfare. Sword also stands for violence which is on the go in the Middle-East countries, at present. If sword is taken as a symbol of action, pen symbolizes the thought behind the action. To say precisely, a leader in Libya had posted a tweet announcing his move against the tyrant Gaddafi, and the tweet inspired the mass of Libya to pick up swords against tyranny.

No doubt, pen is still mightier than sword.  

Life without Electricity in City

Life without electricity is unimaginable in the present decade of 21^st century. Machines drive the ways of our daily life. Machines from a handy gadget to a massive appliance need electricity. Electricity fuels all sorts of gadgets and gizmos directly or indirectly to ensure their proper functioning. 

Life comes to a standstill without electricity in cities and towns. In cities, modern household gadgets like washing machine, refrigerator, home theater system, air conditioner, kitchen appliances like oven, hand blender, mixer, drinking water purifier; official gadgets like computers, printers, scanners, internet devices run on electricity. Mobiles phones, digital cameras, iPods and laptops are integral parts of our city lifestyle. Batteries of phones, laptops, cameras need to be charged with electricity from time to time. 

Cellphone and Internet are two major mediums of communication in the present time. If supply of electricity is cut off for a few hours, communication is disrupted slowing the pace of life in cities. AC is a must need to keep the confined atmosphere cool and comfortable at workplaces where there are many computers. The functional operation comes to a stop during power cut. Lift is the only means for smooth movement from bottom to top in high rises. Without electricity lifts and escalators do not work, and therefore all movement stops. 

The picture of life without electricity in villages is not as grim as in cities. However, the necessity of electricity is undeniable in some fields of rural life. For example, water pumps which run on electricity are used to irrigate agricultural fields. Evidently life depends on electricity as we depend on gadgets, and gadgets depend on electricity for functioning. To say it brief, life with no electricity is a nightmare.    

                                                                   by Aditya Roy Choudhury, a class VI student                          

Kolkata a Branded City Needs Branding to Get Back its Glory

An Introduction to City Branding 

We better recognize and value a product by its brand. When we see a branded product, we immediately associate it with the value that the brand of the product retains. The same is true about a city. A city becomes a brand on the strength of its historical heritage, cultural values, architectural marvels, tourist spots, etc. These are the attributes by virtue of which one city is different from the other. When we see a picture of ‘The Statue of Liberty’ anywhere, we instantly identify New York City that it belongs to. Paris, the capital city of France, is an international brand name in the field of art and fashion. Here lies the concept of city branding. And, it is not something new. It came into being long back. City branding is a powerful marketing concept that businesses are utilizing for higher returns on investment.   

The History of Kolkata, a Branded City  

The history of Kolkata is rich and vibrant. It is what Kolkattans take pride in.  The social, political and colonial history of Kolkata is a most fundamental feature of its being a brand city in India. If the clock is turned back, the history of the city dates back to the year of 1690 when Job Charnok had built a trade settlement here for the East India Company. Kolkata (then Calcutta) was the capital of British India till 1912. It was the hub of the Company’s political and commercial activities. The seeds of Nationalism were sown first in the soil of Kolkata. James Augustus Hickey, the pioneer of journalism in India, published India’s first English newspaper ‘The Bengal Gazette’ from the then Kolkata in 1780. If we move back beyond the year of 1690, references to Kolkata are found in the Manasa Mangal, an age-old literary work of the mythological essence by Bipradas. The history of this city is as vast as the sky itself. It cannot be summed up in a few sentences. 

Culture in Kolkata

The culture of Kolkata is unique. It carries off the bell in all spheres of art and entertainment. A city of idealists, literary luminaries, theatre personalities and creative geniuses, Kolkata boasts of a lively and versatile culture. Durga Puja, Kali Puza, Poila Baishakh, Bhai Phota, Pous Sankranti, Sandesh, Rasagolla, Pithe puli, Narkel nadu, Rabindrasangeet, Shyama sangeet and Baul gan are some unique facets of the traditional Bengali culture in Kolkata. As Kolkata has become a cosmopolitan city in the 21^st century, the growing metropolitan culture shares space with the age-old Bengali culture in the heart of the city. Kolkata owes the distinction of being a brand city to its culture that is as colorful as a rainbow. 

Why Kolkata Needs City Branding 

Kolkata, the capital city of Bengal, has been a branded city since the colonial times. It retains a high brand value in terms of spirit, nationalism, culture, literature, education, food, architecture, development, etc. The Howrah Bridge and the Victoria Memorial are the most prominent evidences of Kolkata’s being an eminent brand in itself. The brand value of Kolkata rests on the city’s being widely known as the cultural capital of India just as Mumbai and Bangalore have gained lots of brand value as the financial capital of India and the silicon valley of India respectively. Satyajit Ray, Rabindranath Tagore, Mother Teresa, Jagadish Chandra Bose and Swami Vivekananda are the eternal icons of this branded Indian city. They represented Kolkata as a branded city all over the world in their times.  

If considered from other perspectives than food, entertainment and culture, Kolkata needs to develop its brand name in communication, infrastructure and environment. The city lags behind the other Indian cities in the field of IT too. Kolkata needs a boost to raise its brand value in terms of economy and commerce as well. Being located on the bank of the Ganges, the city is a land of multiple opportunities in such areas as infrastructure and industry. Once the opportunities are explored and utilized, there will be no stop to the branding of Kolkata in terms of overall development. 

Successful City Branding Activities in Kolkata

City branding is on the rise in the heart of Kolkata. Several city branding activities are on the go along the length and breadth of the city. Kolkata Knight Riders is one of the brand identities of Kolkata to the rest of India. Tollywood, the Bengali film industry, has contributed a lot to Kolkata’s global brand image. With Bengali art films making it big in the international film festivals, Kolkata has occupied an eminent position of high brand value on the global platform of cinematic entertainment. It is one of the most prominent city branding activities that the renowned art filmmakers Rituporno Ghosh, Aparna Sen and Goutam Ghosh are engaged in to boost the brand image of Satyajit Ray and Rabindranath Tagore’s Kolkata both at home and abroad. Providing shoppers with a festive ambience and helping them imbibe the spirit of festivity during the regional festivals of Bengal like Durga puja and Poila Baishakh is a marketing-oriented city branding activity. This shopper-friendly city branding activity is noticeable at the retail outlets of Bazaar Kolkata, Big Bazaar, Pantaloons and City Mart in Kolkata. The political conflict is another mentionable city branding activity in Kolkata. Owing to the war between two opponent political parties, the Red and the Green, the city is identified as the capital of politics-driven Bengal.              

     

Opportunities for Businessmen in Kolkata  

In the eastern zone of India, Kolkata is a greater avenue of opportunities for businessmen. Real estate is booming in the centre and on the outskirts of Kolkata. Shopping malls and housing complexes are on construction all over the city. Retail giants are making inroads into Kolkata. The city houses such mammoth IT conglomerates like IBM, Accenture, TIS and Cognizant. Evidently, the city has immense potential to be a thriving hub of IT business. Opportunities for business in Kolkata are unlimited if the investors and businessmen can relate their business activities to the city’s traditional, metropolitan and cosmopolitan cultures. 

What is Needed to Change the Perception of the City?

The young Kolkattans go gaga over the thought of going to Bangaluru, Pune, Noida, Gurgaon, Delhi and Mumbai for higher studies or job. The present generation of aspirants in Kolkata labors under the view that there is no making of their future and career in the native city. Therefore, city branding is a pressing need of the hour to change their perception of Kolkata. Both higher education sector like business management and private service sector like Information Technology in Kolkata need support of the Bengal Government to witness a significant growth. Development in such spheres as life, entertainment, business and infrastructure can boost the image of Kolkata as a branded Indian city.         

English Essay: “Is giving alms to beggars is a social crime or virtue?”

The human civilization is not free from evils. Greed, avarice, jealousy and lust are a few enduring evils in society. However, poverty is greater and more powerful than those evils. Poverty is a curse on the civilization. Though the civilization has come a long way, this social evil still lurks on the surface. Poverty exists in all nations of the world. It has given birth to a particular class in society that is the class of beggars.  In many developing countries like India, beggars are seen begging almost everywhere. Giving alms to beggars is considered a virtue from the perspective of humanity. Is it a virtue or social crime? There is a controversy around it. 

Beggars belong to the most deprived and poorest section of society. Giving some pennies to the deprived is no crime from any angle. This kind practice is called philanthropy. Philanthropy is a manifestation of humanity. But some beggars despite being physically able take up beggary as a means of sustenance. They find begging easier than doing any other work. If they try, they can earn a living by means of physical labor. They become physically inactive and inert by not exercising their arms and limbs in any work. At times, they feel so dejected that lost all hopes to rise from the state of misery. What they need the most is not alms but encouragement and confidence. Many people of different social groups neither prefer giving alms to those beggars not cheer them up with encouraging words. 

We see many old people begging outside the premises of temples and mosques, and at railway stations. Having no one to look after them at old age and no means of livelihood to feed themselves, they unintentionally turn into beggars. Cursed by ill fate and senility, they are unable to do any physical work. So they have no other option than begging to live on somehow. They deserve to be treated with kindness, to be pitied and to be given alms. There are old age homes where old people having a belonging in terms of money or property are taken care of. But there is no room for the old people who have no riches. 

Child beggars are not rare to find here and there in India. It is a pity to see those children begging instead of playing in fields and reading at schools. Most of those ill-fated children are orphans. They have no one to look after them in society. Hunger and starvation drive them to indulge in begging. Many children of school-going age are forced by their poor and jobless parents to beg so that the family can have a handful of food, at least, once a day. Often these children are employed for menial jobs like washing clothes or utensils, cleaning and sweeping floors at stores and shops. But they are often ill treated and exploited by the employers. Even they are deprived of the wages and dismissed from the work. Then, they take up beggary as the only means of survival. The civilized people do not take these harsh facts into account. Most of them consider giving alms to child beggars an unjust do.

There is no end to the debate on “Is giving alms to beggars a virtue or social crime?” it varies from man to man depending on their individual mentality and view.  

For more exclusive English essays

Are People Turning away from Newspapers in the Internet Age?

Newspaper in Digital Age

Change is a sign of life. It is the only constant factor in the world. With time rolling on, everything mortal or immortal keeps changing. Similarly, technology is always on the wheels of change. The days of print technology seem to be gone by. Now is the age of digital or web or internet technology in the 21^st century. Newspaper, any age-old product of print technology, is a valuable mode of print communication. But, in present times of Internet people are turning to the web world for instant availability of information. The increasing number of internet users turning to online media for news has raised a debate “Is newspaper valued and read by people in the present digital times?”. 

Surveys show that the popularity of newspaper is still intact in Indian and China despite the advancement in Internet technology there. Definitely, there are valid reasons to quote in support of newspapers being read by people. Many people are in the habit of reading newspapers over tea or coffee in the morning. Reading newspaper in the morning is an integral part of their daily routine. After waking up, they wait for the arrival of newspaper at the doorstep. The number of such regular newspaper readers is huge. 

Newspaper is portable. People can carry it when they are on the move. Many people go through newspapers when they are on the way to their destinations like office, school, college and home. It helps relieve the tedium of journey. Nowadays, news is available on mobile phones by means of mobile internet. People using cell phones with mobile internet can be updated on events and happenings in real time through news every now and then. But it is not possible or convenient to read a news story in details on the screen of mobile phones. 

Reading newspaper is far more comfortable and convenient. Staring at the computer screen for reading online news is often stressful for the eyes. But, this is not an issue with reading the pages of newspapers. Newspaper can be read in a relaxed position and at ease. 

Newspaper houses have jumped into fray with digital media and web media. All leading newspapers in different parts of the world have gone online to survive in the stiff competition and keep up with the changing times. The sun in the sky of newspapers in India is smiling and shining despite the increasing glare of digital and web media.       

English Essays - 

The Changing Face of Journalism in the Digital Era

Generation Gap is a Myth or Reality 

   

Strewn Garbage on Streets Mar the Environmental Beauty of Kolkata

Kolkata is growing in terms of population. Urbanization of the city is on the go in full swing. The city has become crowded more densely than before. Though development is on the go, the city that is a place of Indian cultural heritage is infested with problems, one of which is garbage. Garbage heaps on the streets is a common picture to behold in North and Central Kolkata. 

It results in several problems for the auto drivers and pedestrians. The huge heaps of garbage on one side of a street narrow the street and make it difficult for the vehicles to run smoothly. The situation turns worse during peak hours of the day when there is a jostling traffic.

Stray animals like dogs and cows keep roaming around the garbage heaps dumped on streets. The pedestrians sometimes land in trouble because of stray animals. Moreover, the animals keep digging the garbage heaps, as a result of which the rubbish gets scattered here and there, making the surrounding dirty and stingy. An unpleasant smell emanates from the pile of garbage and lies heavy in the air of the surrounding.

The worst of the problems resulting from the dumping of garbage on the sides of the street is the spread of flies and insects like mosquitoes. The garbage heaps are an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes that carry the germs of such serious diseases as malaria, dengue etc. 

The city of Kolkata is a beautiful hub of culture and history. But the strewn garbage mars the environmental beauty of the city that, in turns, makes a negative impression on tourists and travellers in the city.  It is a shame on the Municipal Corporation and its administration.
                                                                                      By Koushik Pal, Student of class IX

For more essays on problems in Kolkata, follow: 

The Sorry State of Local Trains from Suburbs to Kolkata

 

“Progress does not mean turning richer” – an Explanation in Details

Progress is such a phenomenon that it can be defined in a number of different ways. For some, it is growing richer in whereas for some it is acquiring knowledge. Many things like wealth, money, knowledge, power, etc, are taken as unites to measure the level of progress. However, in the present era, many people think that turning richer means making progress. But they are absolutely wrong. 

A man who grows richer and richer is so miserly that he minds giving alms to a beggar. He is not supposed to be on the way to progress from the perspective of humanity. If a man who has accumulated lots of wealth is mean in thought and poor in mind, he is far behind progress. 

Today’s youngsters from the well-do-do families keep up with the latest fashion trends to flaunt their rich social status. But they turn indifferent to their own culture and customs, the base of existence in society. They sniff at the cultural heritage of their ancestors. These youngsters are at a distance from progress from the perspective of cultural development. 

Many people aim at making money as the only goal in their lives. They work hard day in and day out to pile on money. They think that having lots of money is an index to social progress. But it is not always true. One’s quality also serves as the base of one’s social reputation and progress. It is not only money or wealth but also humanity, virtues, high thoughts and good deeds which can take a man to the peak of progress. 

The same is applicable in case of a nation. In the 21^st century, a country is said to be developed or developing on ground of its economy and technology. The booming economy of metropolitan cities and the advanced technological infrastructure are taken as the yardsticks to measure the progress of countries. But the picture of progress fades when one takes a look into the heart of rural backwaters. For example, India where hundreds of farmers commit suicide every year when the harvest is very low and they run into debt, is surprisingly supposed to be developing in economy. 

So, turning richer is not the only sign of progress.     By Tanzil Ansari, Student of class XI

Other thoughtful essays: 

Generation Gap is a Myth or Reality  

Sorry State of Local Trains in Kolkata

The Changing Face of Journalism in Digital Era

The Changing Face of Journalism in Digital Era

Journalism in the Digital Era

Gone are the days when people used to wait for the arrival of newspapers at their doorsteps and read newspapers with sips into their cups of tea in the morning. Morning was the time to have glimpses of the world through newspapers. In the 21^st century, people have access to news even when they are on walk or move by means of digital media. Journalism in the present decade of digital media is highly competitive, more challenging and faster. The use of innovative digital communication tools in gathering, reporting, analyzing and presenting news has revolutionized the field of journalism. 

News gathering – News gathering was a herculean task in the years before the present era of digital media. The use of miniature digital cameras has led to the demise of big team camera crews. Correspondents at the site of a breaking story or sports event transmit images from their digital cameras to editors of a newspaper organization via Internet within seconds. Wireless technology has enabled reporters to report the proceedings at court during a sensitive case hearing through SMSes from their mobile phones or emails via mobile internet to the editorial headquarters. As the tools of news gathering have become smaller and smarter, the non-stop round the clock news cycle has become the norm. 

News Reporting – Journalism in the present decade of digital media runs at a cracking pace. The task of news reporting was strenuous before the introduction of digital communication tools. It required journalists to report in person to the editorial department of newspaper organizations on time. Digital media have made it possible to report on a breaking news story in real time. Now, TV journalists do live reporting from the site of a social event or road accident. The minute-to-minute updates of an event or accident, transmitted by reporters through SMSes and emails go online to provide the public with real-time news. 

News Presentation – The style of news presentation is a key to the growth and popularity of print media, electronics media and web media in the present age of digital communication. The immediacy and transparency of news that the modern-day digital media have brought about is increasing the impact of journalism. In this modern media age, people run and read, run and hear, run and see. Therefore, journalists of all media – print, web and electronics are under pressure to present news stories in an easier and more comprehensible way. The better the news presentation is, the more the news provider is popular. 

Competition – In the 21^st century, going online for publicity and promotion is the latest trend. Both newspaper houses and TV news channels have gone online to widen their reach, boost their business and fuel their growth. Through social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, they are reaching out to more and more people in a split of a second. Today’s Internet-savvy people who have nose for news remain hooked to social networking sites through their cell phones to get news updates every minute. Journalism has gained momentum due to the neck-and-neck competition between print media and electronics media in the digital era.

Journalism in the present digital age when news is combined with pictures and video clips, has posed threat to the government. Government actions and policies, whether in Washington, London or Delhi are now subjected to instant analysis and opinion polling because of real-time and round-the-clock news.  

   

Journalism has taken a U-turn owing to the faster and more efficient means of gathering and transmitting news across geographical barriers via Internet. At the same time, the pressure of the 24 hour news cycle, the demand for instant news coverage and the growing competition are placing core journalistic values – objectivity and accuracy at risk.