The danger within

over $29 billion, the Fairfax group with a market capitalisation of about $1.5 billion, seems like fair play. Gina has so far acquired about 19% of the media group and is expected to demand seats on the board and much to the chagrin of some, editorial input.

With more than 70,000 newspapers, and over 100 million copies sold daily, India is the world’s largest newspaper market in the world.

By contrast, there are only two major newspaper groups in Australia, one dominated by the Murdoch-led News Limited and the other by the Fairfax group who print among other publications, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. While the Indian media industry has been largely resilient and adaptive to changes in the print world, the Fairfax group has recently announced a radical change to their structure.

Its flagship papers will now change from broadsheet to tabloid; two of its printing presses will shut down; over 1,900 employees will lose their jobs over the next three years, and its online content will now have a pay wall. Whether these changes will reverse the trajectory of this once-mighty news empire, only time will tell.

One who believes that there is considerable value in having control of a media outlet is mining magnate Gina Rinehart. For the richest woman in the world with a personal fortune of

The danger however, is that Australians may have their two major newspaper channels largely controlled by private interests who don’t shy away from their preference for the conservative side of politics. The phone hacking inquiry in the UK revealed how the fine line between editorial independence and political interference can be crossed when newspapers get too close to politicians. The mad dash for headline news often ignores basic human values. After having spent millions fighting the original Ruddbacked mining tax, Rinehart’s foray into Fairfax was noted as an investment in her main mining business. Having a greater input in one of the more left newspaper groups can be seen as a prudent longterm investment by her.

The challenge for the Fairfax group and its flagship papers such as SMH and The Age will be to continue garnering the respect of the community. While the shape of the newspaper can change, actual content is what drives respect. Granted that online information has had an impact on the underlying print editions, it is interesting to note that the regional newspapers in the Fairfax stable have been making about $200 million a year in earnings. Interestingly enough, one of the most respected investors in the world Warren Buffet, only last month bought 63 regional newspapers from Media General in a deal worth $142 million. There must still be some juice in the media world that has this sage of investing so interested.

While nowhere near the scale of the Fairfax group, Indian Link is now in its 19th year of printing for the Indian Australian community. Today it has grown from being a monthly newspaper to a fortnightly in Sydney, and now prints monthly in all capitals - Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. A total of 72 editions per year, distributed free, along with an electronic version of the paper reaching a database of over 30,000 per issue. We believe that the community is hungry for good, balanced reporting and the desire to be connected with each other, especially while living in this, their adopted home. The readers are intelligent enough to discern between fluff and ideas which make them think, while keeping them informed. If you treat readers with respect, they in turn, want to be part of your journey. We have stood by this principle for 19 years, while adapting to all changes in technology.

For Fairfax media though, big changes are afoot, and the new management, wherever they are from, will certainly have their hands full.

SPIRITUAL

Chinmaya Mission events

Tue 3 July Guru Poornima festival celebrations, 7.30pm to 9.00pm

Sat 7 – Sun 8 July Family camp

“Art of Parenting” for adults; “Why God - do we need Him?” for children with Br Gopal Chaitanya

Sat 14 – Sun 15 July Teen mini camp “Why do we......?” with Br Gopal Chaitanya

Sat 21 – Sun 22 July Youth (CHYK) mini camp “Love is…” with Br Gopal Chaitanya

Sat 28 July “Destiny: Who is Incharge?” Talks with Br Gopal Chaitanya, 7.00pm to 9.00pm.

Sanskrit lessons

Chinmaya Mission Australia announces a Beginners’ Sanskrit Course starting 31 May. The 10-session course, to be held weekly on Thursday nights, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm, will involve Alphabet, Vocabulary, Basic Reading, Basic Grammar, Basic Conversation lessons. Details Br Gopal Chaitanya 02 8850-7400 or 0416 482 149

Durga Oonjal

Sun 15 July Sri Om Adisakthi

Ashram will celebrate Durga Oonjal (Durga Jhoola) festival at Sri Om Adi Sakthi Ashram, 62, Kurrajong Cresc, Blacktown. Day program 10.00am – 12.30pm; afternoon 2.00pm – 6.30pm. Details Ashram 02 9676-4061; Jay Raman 0410 759 906.

Bhagavad Gita classes by SVT

Learn Chapters 7 to 13 of the Bhagavad Gita as taught by Sri Vasudevacharya, a senior disciple of Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati, and a respected Vedanta Guru. Darcy Road Public School Hall, Darcy Road, Wentworthville, 3:00pm to 5:30pm No prior knowledge is required. The course is in English and all materials will be provided. The course is free of charge; donations are accepted. Details at www. srivasudevacharya.org

Shree Ram Sharnam society

The Shree Ram Sharnam society’s Sydney headquarters are located at 23 Sheba Crescent, South Penrith. One-hour prayer sessions featuring the recital of the Shree Amritvaani are held daily between 7:30pm and 8:30pm (except Saturday and Sunday when prayers are held from 6pm to 7:15pm). The society’s next prayer-meditation sessions are scheduled for May 13 and June 3 from 9.00am to 10.00 am at the Woodcroft Community Centre on 65 Woodcroft Drive.

Children’s classes at GOD

The Global Organisation for Divinity announces the start of Gopakuteeram, spiritual educational classes for children aged 4 - 12 years. 4.00 pm - 5.30 pm at the Crestwood Community Centre, Cnr Crestwood Drive & Chapel Lane, Baulkham Hills. Classes are free for all participating children. Parents can join in the devotional lecture by Sri Deepak Vinodji, kirtans and prayers in another room within the centre during the Gopakuteeram classes. Details Jayashree 02 9620 4676

MISC

Hindi studies for high school students

Hindi Language is offered by the Saturday School of Community Languages – DET at Liverpool Girls High School, Hills Sports High School and Strathfield Girls High School. This provides opportunities for high school students to study Hindi language to Higher School Certificate levels as it is not available at their day school. Board of Studies syllabus is followed. The classes are free of charge and are run on Saturdays from 8.30 am to 10.30 am for Years 7 – 10, and 8.30 – 11.45 am for Years 11-12. Enrolment forms can be accessed