Res ipsa loquitur

TGF

In an October 3, 2006 posting on GoaNet, its moderator Fred Noronha directed reader
attention to his posting on Goa Journo, another list that he also moderates.

Inter alia, Mr. Noronha had something to say about an error containing February 2002 Navhind Times article.

TGF believes that, in this 4 years post de-facto article, Mr. Noronha is trying very hard to
defend or at least sanitise sloppiness and misrepresentation in journalism.

Anyway, here is the relevant Fred Noronha segment.

Res ipsa loquitur.  The Thing Speaks for Itself.

 
[We were at one of those Konkani conferences (probably at Margao), where despite the hegemony prevailing, all attempts are made to portray the colourful diversity of Konkani speakers.

It was the turn of the Siddis to take the stage. I couldn't help drawing Mahambre's  attention, in a few breathless sentences, to their very unusual history.

Mahambre, in the true style of hurried journalism that dominates our model currently, wrote a story based on what he understood.

See this resultant debate [ http://www.colaco.net/1/siddhi.htm ]

That Mahambre got his facts wrong is not in question. To insinuate malice (or even a conspiracy, because this particular story didn't get a byline ... like most Navhind stories) is quite another matter!

In a way, it was very sad.

I would know how the story came about, how the errors carelessly crept in, and how so much more was read into it than should have. This became a reason for persistent taunts by that tiny cyber-lobby that feels the need to sanitise the colonial role in Goa for reasons of their own.

Mahambre simply laughed this off; as someone who didn't bother too much with cyberspace,  he probably didn't even care!]

The error containing article in question and the subsequent responses are recorded on TGF.[2]

Based on what Mr. Noronha has now written, it appears that the late Umesh Mhambre authored the error containing Siddhi Navhind Times 2002 article. Mr. Mhambre is no longer able to defend what is being said about him - so TGF will stick to the issues.

Mr. Fred Noronha now agrees with TGF that the Siddi story, as it appeared in the Navhind Times, had errors. It also appears from the above quoted that the late Mr. Mhambre got some of his 'facts' from Mr. Fred Noronha.

These errors were pointed out to the editor of the Navhind Times. Mr. Fred Noronha knows that the 'facts' in the article were wrong. We are not (yet) advised IF Mr. Fred Noronha thought that it was alright to allow WRONG 'facts' to be left uncorrected.

We are however treated to a spiel. Is Mr. Noronha trying to sanitise the lack of research prior to publication by attacking those who challenge WRONG 'facts'?

What is sadder Mr. Noronha: Pointing out the errors or trying to sanitise errors while refusing to correct them?

One can understand politicians and their hacks making up stuff to get their agenda through.  That is why they are believed as much as a pinch of salt.  How much should we trust  Journalists who make up stuff and refuse to correct it when the error is pointed out to them?

Is it not the public's right to have unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information, and the journalist's duty to make adequate enquiries and cross check his/her facts ? [3]

Mr. Noronha asks about malice. TGF wasn't able to gauge the intent of the unidentified Navhind Times reporter who wrote the error containing Siddi article, until we read Fred Noronha's above quoted comments.

It is generally accepted that for Malice to be proved the statement maker must either have
knowledge that his statement was false or have reckless disregard of whether it was false or not.

The above statement from Mr. Noronha indicating that the alleged writer of the error containing Siddi article, when advised of the concerns, 'simply laughed this off', makes us
wonder about Malice.

TGF believes that there is enough of accurate and documented material with which to castigate the Portuguese with reference to Goa (having regard for the positive contributions that Portugal made to Goa).  That having been noted, this inexplicable desire on the part of some Goa Journos to manufacture anti-Portuguese material defies logic.

Unless there is really is some logic behind this serial misrepresentation.

TGF
October 22, 2006

References:

[1] re: that tiny cyber-lobby that feels the need to sanitise the colonial role in Goa for reasons of their own.
http://puggy.symonds.net/pipermail/goajourno/2006-October/002953.html

[2] The Great Goan "Siddi Controversy"
http://www.colaco.net/1/siddhi.htm

[3] Codes Of Ethics for Journalists
http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Home

Coming Up: Another bogus and as yet uncorrected story with an anti-Portuguese slant.

For other articles on TGF