Mangaluru: While Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a clarion call to websites to spread positivity, during his latest edition of “Mann ki Baat”, newskarnataka.com and newskannada.com celebrated positive journalism followed by the portals over the last five years, through ‘The Huddle-2019’, at the Senate Hall of Milagres Hall Complex in Hampankatta on Wednesday, January 2.
With the tagline of Truth Endures, the websites owned by Spearhead Media Private Limited, one of the fast-growing Mangaluru-based Media house has always believed in focusing on positivity and hope rather than on negativity and despair.
The entire Spearhead Media team came together as a family to conduct the event and make it a grand success. Investors, influencers, well-wishers and fellow media personnel were in attendance to celebrate Spearhead Media’s milestone.
Santosh Goenka, chief alchemist, Diaganol World and mentor of Speadhead Media, while delivering the keynote address informed of the necessity of positive journalism. He said, “Focus should be laid on the positive aspects rather than negative aspects. Media should reach out to the readers, which is the only way of success. As there is competition between different media groups, we need to opt for innovative ways which the other media houses cannot touch.” He also emphasised on the need to stand apart focusing on positivity without any inhibitions.
While stressing on going out to the community and giving them a platform to voice their opinions and issues, Goenka, who is the grandson of the celebrated media baron and freedom fighter Ramanth Goenka said that if we stand by the community, the community will stand by us.
Chief Guest of the event, CREDAI President and Allegro Builders Managing Director D B Mehta said, “Every reader is an opinion maker and media should not indulge in revealing only half-truths. As the media of the coastal district highlights only the negative aspects of Mangaluru, investors are afraid to invest here. Media should build a good image of Mangaluru rather than emphasising only the bad incidents.” He added that focus on negativity is ruining the possibilities of growth for the city.
CA Valerian Dalmaida, an active shareholder and positive media proponent, addressing the gathering said that media should be active in order to provide a voice to the voiceless. “Instead of concentrating upon unworthy topics, we need to emphasise on women and youth empowerment, problems of villages, farming activities, water harvesting, agriculture among others. As the Spearhead Media group believes in ‘Truth Endures’, we are planning to go ahead with ‘positive journalism’ and ask that the people cooperate with us,” he said.
N V Paulose, Director of Media Innovations and Global TV at Spearhead Media said, “Media should be the backbone of the society. When the right people enter the right place at the right time, change takes place. Besides that, collaboration of all minds for a good cause is the need of the hour.”
Marketing and Operations Director Canute Pinto recalled the recently held annual ‘Vishwa Tulu Sammelana’ held at Dubai, which was telecast live by ‘Team Newskarnataka’ through its Facebook page and secured 12 lakh ‘views’.
During the occasion, the logo of ‘NK Live’ was launched by D B Mehta.
After the formal section of the programme, there was an interactive session with the guests. Several guests took the opportunity to exchange ideas with the dignitaries and network with fellow media personnel.
Meanwhile, Guinness record holder Akki Kalu Venkatesh demonstrated the art of writing on rice grains and engaged the audience by encouraging them to try out the niche art form. Several members of the audience took up the challenge and were delighted by the unique interaction.
Towards the end of the programme, a dinner spread was laid out for the guests, catered by Kamath Caterers. While the guests indulged in the scrumptious dinner, Likhith Shenoy enthralled them with a melodious ‘ghazal’. Discarding the age-old tradition of presenting the guests with a floral bouquet, the organisation welcomed the dignitaries with a rose plant as a way to propagate the ‘green initiative’. The members of the audience were also given rose plants to take home and nurture.
Earlier, the programme kickstarted with a soulful invocation by Newskarnataka.com’s sub-editor Likhith Shenoy. Chief Executive Officer Brian Fernandes welcomed the gathering. Bharathi Shevgoor compeered the programme. Marketing and Operations Director Canute Pinto delivered a vote of thanks. Active Shareholder and Managing Director of AI Mazouri and Clevy Automobiles, Abu Dhabi Leo Rodrigues, Group Editor Bhakthi Hegde, staff of Spearhead group among others were present. The milestone achieved by the group was also celebrated with a symbolic cake cutting ceremony.
