D J Venkatesh and Dr. P K Mandal
Port Blair, Nov 16: Dr. Ram Mohan Pathak from Kashi Vidyapeeth of Journalism today said that people sitting in the parliament should think about new regulations on media and people of press should think about self regulation in developing country like India.
Addressing the gathering of National Press Day Programme at Mahatma Gandhi Government College Auditorium today Dr. Pathak, who was the Chief Guest of the programme, added that the trend in Journalism has changed and now the main motto is to earn profit as much as you can.
“The basic motto is to earn more and sell more. In journalism we should check recheck and cross check but we lack time for this. We don’t have so much energy, time, efficiency and skill for this and moreover we are not ready for this,” he said raising some serious questions over present day journalism.
Dr. Pathak added that this is the era of regional journalism.
“The media should set their own agenda. This is the era of 24X7 Journalism. News is sacred and whatever is fact should be published. There should be no colour in news. Media’s strength and freedom affected by so many kinds of pressures one of them is commercialization, but you must put your point. We are the so called forth pillar. Media should be for the development of the society, people should watch that what media is doing,” he added.
Earlier, Mr. V. K. Mishra, the Officer Incharge of IP Division delivered the welcome speech while, Mr. AP Mohammed (Sahil Ki Oar), Mr. Karikavanan (Andaman Murasu), Mr. Chaterjee, Mrs. Uma Bharathy (Andaman Agni) and Mr. Nelson Prasad (Island Mirror) spoke of Freedom of Press and sole ethics of Journalism.
During the programme, Mrs. Madhuri Giri, Adhyaksh highlighted the grievances of Zilla Parishads and Panchyat Raj institution that due to non availability of funds it is not possible to carry out any development work. She alleged that most of the officers do not attend the Gram Sabha meetings and send their sub-ordinates, who fails to given an suggestions or explanation.
During the programme, Dr. RN Rath, Principal of MGGC highlighted the importance of the day.
