IMPHAL,NEW DELHI Nov 16 MNS NNN : The parliamentary secy. IPR, K. Meghachandra said, the role of media in a democratic country is of utmost importance. Media is a powerful tool. In a secular state like ours, the role of media is more important.
He was speaking as chief guest at the national press day 2012 at Manipur Press Club today.
We should laud the media’s role as it is trying to unite the integrity of Manipur.The new office building of Directorate of Information and Public relations (DIPR) which is now under construction at Keishampat will be inaugurated in January 2013, assured IPR Parliamentary Secretary K Meghachandra while speaking on the occasion of National Press Day and Manipur State Journalist Awards, 2012 ceremony held at the Manipur Press Club on Friday.
Staff shortages in the department including district officers will be filled up soon after due consultation with the Chief Minister, Meghachandra added, assuring that all the cameras, video cameras and computers of the department will also be upgraded.
“The staff should try to uphold the DIPR by cooperating among themselves because, despite being a small department it plays a key role in disseminating information to the public on various policy and programme of the state which is highly sensitive,” he said during the function organised by DIPR.
Acknowledging that the department serves as a fine bridge between the Government and the public, the Parliamentary Secretary also said DIPR needs to be strengthened so as to enable full implementation of policy and programme as well as the 15-point programme of the state Government.
Stating that the media is a powerful weapon in a democratic country, Meghachandra added that a state like Manipur having different communities, religions and cultures has further made the role of the media bigger. The role of the media especially in maintaining the integrity of the state is undeniably commendable, he insisted.
The chief guest of the function later gave away the Manipur State Journalist Awards, 2012 to seven journalists. Pradip Phanjoubam, editor, Imphal Free Press bagged the Best Editor Award on National Integration, P Bishwakanta, reporter, Poknapham received the award for rural reporting, K Vedajit, reporter, Ireibak was honoured with the award for health and hygienic reporting.
Sapam Aruna, reporter, The Sangai Express was given the award for women and children reporting, Angom Ranjit, chief reporter, Poknapham was conferred the award for science and technology reporting, Nepram Krishnamohon, joint editor, Sanaleibak received the award for parliamentary reporting and Wangkhem Rishikesh, reporter, Hueiyen Lanpao was honoured with the award for sports reporting.
A Mobi, president, (AMWJU), L Lakher, Commissioner, IPR also attended the function as guest of honour and president respectively.
Later, Meghachandra also visited the construction site of DIPR building and inspected it personally. The IPR Parliamentary Secretary was accompanied by other top officials of the deportment during the visit.
A seminar: Freedom of Media was also organized to mark the occasion of National Press Day at the Manipur Press Club.
Dr Aribam Ibomcha, news editor and head of Regional News Unit, AIR, Imphal delivered a speech on ‘The Freedom of Media with Special Reference to Manipur’ at the seminar. Yumnam Rupachandra, correspondent, Seven Sisters’ Post also spoke on the topic: Freedom of the Media. Seram Mangi, retired IIS moderated the discussion.
Meanwhile Minister for Information & Broadcasting Shri Manish Tewari has said that the changing paradigm in the media space has taken place due to the technological innovations in the media domain. Both the regulatory framework and human ingenuity have not kept pace with the technological innovations. I the current scenario, self regulation was the best way forward with the participation and partnership of key stakeholders. The Minister stated this while delivering his address at the commemoration of the National Press Day organized by Press Council of India.
Elaborating further, the Minister said, that in view of the challenges that had emerged, there was need for constant introspection so that the self regulation process could be taken forward. The Constitution of India under Article 19 provides for the freedom of speech and expression, from where the media drew its strength.
The Press Council of India has instituted National Awards to honour journalists excelling in print journalism in various fields were given during the occasion. These awards were given today to encourage the media to pursue its duties following the dictum of ‘freedom with responsibility’.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/self-regulation-best-way-forward-manish-national-press-day-observed/
