Investigation is a core media task: N. Ram

The Chairman of Kasturi and Sons Ltd. recalls The Hindu’s investigation of the Bofors scandal, to underline the importance of ‘fitting the investigation into a larger frame.’

Leila Seth presenting the Investigative Journalism Award to Vinod K. Jose,Executive Editor, Caravan, who received it on behalf of Nilita Vachani. Others are (from left): Sashi Kumar, T.J.S. George, Mukul Kesavan, Mrinal Pande, and N. Ram, Chairman of Kasturi & Sons Limited.—Photo: V. Ganesan

“It is important to take a wide-angle view of journalism that sees investigation as one of its core tasks, rather than as a super-speciality or a sequestered discipline,” said N. Ram, Chairman, Kasturi and Sons Ltd. and Publisher of The Hindu Group of publications, delivering the annual Lawrence Dana Pinkham Memorial Lecture at the convocation of the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, on Tuesday.

Speaking on ‘What is Special about Investigative Journalism? A critical look at its precepts and practice’, he recalled The Hindu ’s investigation of the Bofors scandal, to underline the importance of ‘fitting the investigation into a larger frame.’

‘Documents are vital’

Mr. Ram, who led the Bofors investigation as a journalist, said the documents that were in hand or in the pipeline were vital to the story, but the story should not be lost in the web of complexity. “Investigative journalism is not about technique, documentation and data analysis although these are essential requirements,” he said, adding, “They must be consciously understood to be a means to an end, a coherent, nuanced, compelling story that serves as a catalyst for progressive change or reform.”

The evening also saw Nilita Vachani, a New York-based documentary film-maker and a writer, bagging the ACJ award for Investigative Journalism for her story in Caravan magazine about the maid who was forced into the middle of an insider trading scandal involving Raj Rajaratnam, a hedge fund manager in the United States.

Story of exploitation

After choosing Ms. Vachani’s story as the best out of 111 entries in eight languages, Leila Seth, former judge of the Delhi High Court, said that it was a story about how ‘an illiterate woman was exploited by powerful men’.

Apart from Justice Seth the other members of the jury included journalist T.J.S. George, Mukul Kesavan and Mrinal Pande.

Sashi Kumar, chairman, Media Development Foundation and ACJ, gave the introductory remarks.

Around 175 students, specialising in various streams, received their post-graduate diploma certificates.