IIT-Madras apologised to the photo-journalist who was assaulted while he was on the campus on Tuesday for coverage of the suicide. “IIT-Madras regrets this unfortunate incident and apologizes to the concerned photo-journalist and the media at large. We hope to enjoy cordial relationships with the media as in the past,” the institution’s director Bhaskar Ramamurthi said in a statement.
At the same time, he alleged the “unfortunate altercation” followed the photo-journalist insisting on “continuing to take close-up photographs of grieving girl students in gross violation of Press Council of India norms.” He urged the media to reflect on the “ethical dimensions” of the conduct of the photo-journalist in the context of the student’s demise.
However, the photographer who was assaulted, Albin Mathew, said he had obtained permission from the dean of students to take pictures. It was because he had refused to delete the pictures that he was assaulted. The professor called security guards to hold him while he punched him on his face and tried to take his camera away. The photographer decided to press charges.
In a later development, IIT-Madras issued an elaborate statement alleging that the photographer had taken “objectionable” close-up pictures of grieving women students, a charge that Mr. Mathew denied. IIT-Madras claimed that the photographer had punched the chairman of council of wardens, an allegation that was not made earlier.
On Wednesday morning, a large number of reporters from both the print and visual media staged a demonstration in Sembakkam near Tambaram, protesting the assault.
The Tamil Nadu Press Photographers’ Association has demanded that the institute takes stern action against those involved in the attack. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko demanded police action.
Keywords: IIT-M student suicide case
Seriously?? Is that what you call the freedom of press?? Even if you think that the IITM administration is covering up something, why would the students too oppose the photographer??
According to the IITM's student run media, it was the photographer who assaulted first. I never thought that even THE HINDU would make cover up stories like this.
A paper of Hindu's stature should immediately retract this story. What
were the photographs taken by the Photographer? Why was he not willing
to show it to the Professor. What if the photograph is used for a different purpose possibly for articles which will not at all be relevant to the story.
This is essentially a "police case". The police would take photographs and any other evidence needed to proceed further in the matter. The Press can do further investigation if any foul play is suspected. But, the intention here seems to be to hurry up to dig something sensational and expose it to attain some momentary journalistic glory. And in the process show the "proud" IIT its place and the moral superiority of the supposedly noble and ethical press (as the title of this article shows). The reporter can cover the "story", but demanding the right to photographs-of whom and for what purpose?
There is thin line of different between breach of Privacy and Freedom of expression. But a professional Press will truly know his limit.
The Photographer was not covering the most important happening event of the day. He is very well free to express his thought and opinion.
But what aggravated the situation was his lack of sensitivity to the issue where he is covering a "GIRLS" hostel where emotions are pretty high at the moment. Forget being "Press", being a responsible citizen he could have restrained himself from doing such an act of violating privacy. I am not saying what Professor did was right.(Yet you can give it to him as he took responsibility of protecting the students from hopeless Press just like a father). But what the Photographer did was absolutely uncalled for.
Press is the fourth leg of democracy and as such press freedom must be encouraged and protected. Whether a situation to be photographed is appropriate is a matter of subjectivity and more often than not, it will end up in a "Gray" area.
In the present circumstance, I believe both the parties to dispute must have shown restraint. Blaming that press has exceeded its moral rights or the IIT administration is trying to silence an untoward incident and perhaps trying to push it under the carpet may be too far fetched.
The incident may bring disrepute a premier educational institution in itself is not an argument to silence the incident. If this were to happen similar incidents will have lesser and lesser chances of being brought to the light and society at large would be poorly served. At the same time, press has a rightful duty to bring out facts, but cannot hold the other side as hostage or take advantage of the situation.
Two proud people misbehaved, a reporter who felt he was above common decency, and a
teacher who felt he had full authority in his own institution.
There is no law against insensitivity, against the casual cruelty of the cameraman with his
lens.
I take comfort in the fact that this photographer will be replaced by a mobile phone camera,
but despair of the media ever learning to respect human grief.
@people who are supporting the journalist (Rajiv Gandhi case etc.,) Journalist are expected to cover only the news. You aren't expected to help in crime scene investigation. This isn't any political leader / cinema hero / heroine or any other popular figure to take the pictures of the grieving female students. This is a sad news and show respect to the feelings of the people related / associated to the situation. Think and behave like human just don't read / quote rules and laws. We only make them and can be broken easily if and when needed. If no humanity in humans, then no law will help.
Agreed. Journalism is a profession but it should respect people's emotion and should have etichal rules as well. It cannot be EXCLUDED from any moral and ethical rules.
If a common people should follow the moral standards all the time, it should be the same for ALL PROFESSIONALS as well.
The noted journalist the late Dr D.Anjaneyalu coined the phrase `journalistic arrogance'. How right he was?
But why these things happen at IIT - M. Though only meager people pass from Chennai for IIT, I hear that many do not opt for IIT at the end. The reason they say is that the fact that an ordinary student of their batch land up in the course of his /her choice in private colleges here, they seldom get their preferred course at IIT. The fees they pay at IIT works out almost same as the fees through counseling and hence those who have joined IIT - M from other states in the course that they have not preferred first feel dejected. What is the problem at IIT - M to offer the course of the choice of the aspirants? It is obvious that they should increase the seat and improve the infrastructure for the most preferred courses. But why is IIT - M not doing it?
If a professor of an esteemed institution like IIT attacks a photographer doing his job, it doesn't reflect highly upon the institution.
"Can one imagine what students might have felt when they saw a person taking photograph of one of their dead classmates? " Yes it is painful. Our eyes can't bear it. That is why we cry as it is painful. However, does that stop us from taking a look at the deceased person? Absolutely not. Journalism is a profession. We need to respect the jouralist's right to prosper. It is the professor who broke the law of punching the Journalist. When highly educated person can break a law why are we critizing the Journalist who hasn't broken any law ?
It is painful to see that a person of the media, a messenger, has been brutally
attacked, that too by a professor of an esteemed institution. Over the last few years,
the institution has been caught in a series of scams and controversies, the spate of
suicides being the tip of the iceberg. The said photographer, as far as I am
concerned, did the right thing by trying to record the incident through pictures
because such huge number of suicides in the last few years has raised suspiscion
about the place, which is the duty of every journalist to investigate. Why was he
given permission by the dean in the first place if they did not want him to be there?
Even if he had taken such pictures, can a professor be allowed to use security guards
and assault the person leading to injuries? If they had any problem at all, they could
have taken legal recourse or at least informed the editor of the media not to publish
the photographs. Rather, he chose to lock up the guy after beating him up.
Is it not the duty of a photographer to take snaps of the victim. IIT
claims the victim had committed suicide. PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS HELPED THE
INVESTIGATING OFFICERS MANY TIMES. One must understand that photographs
played vital role in Rajiv murder case. I suspect why the official (Dean
of Students) is more particular about deleting photographs? I feel sorry
for one who argues that photographs are not essential in a case like
this. Objection from laymen is understandable.. But from the official of
Prestigious institution IIT-M raises many questions...
What is the need for photos while covering a suicide news..? I do not
understand the contention of journalists.I guess an IIT M logo
downloaded from google will serve the purpose if covering the news was
the real intention.And it is because of journalists like these the real
journalists are shown a tainted picture in the mass media whenever such
incidents happen.
Media cannot be above the law. Has the media ever apologised? The fraternity always supports itself without going in to the merits of the case.
The journalist could have reported the case without taking photos of the grieving.
Why did the journalist have to take those photos? Is it so important? Will it make a big difference if those photos are not published? Time for media to apologize to the nation for sensationalizing every thing.
Press freedom and freedom of espression is one of the highest values of a democratic open society like ours. However, I have no sympathy for the photographer in this case. This kind of "Photo journalist" often degenerates to become papparazzi. Many of these peole weilding cameras have no training, no human compassion, and no scruples. Their sole aim is to capture a sensational picture that will advance their careers, make a couple of bucks.
Can one imagine what students might have felt when they saw a person taking photograph of one of their dead classmates?
This seems very much like IIT-M administration! They always try to cover up suicides: I have witnessed this first-hand, in the case of a previous suicide, when a Head of the Department, Muraleedharan, did his best to cover up one suicide (and he succeeded, in fact). In other matters, too, IIT-M administration is draconian and opaque. It is pathetic to work there. Even now they are concerned about maintaining good relations with the media--not about obeying laws (since what they did to the photographer is clearly illegal).
When will time come for Media to apologize - for doing something wrong or for doing nothing when simple humanitarian gesture was needed.
I tend to disagree with the journalist/ photographer fraternity. Whats
the content the journalist wanted to create with taking photos of
grieving people. The ethics are really eroding from profession.
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