Create additiol directorate for electronic & social media: CM

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 28: In sync with the recent trend of media use throughout the world, State Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal has directed the Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Department to create an additiol directorate exclusively to deal with the electronic and social media.

Sonowal directed for a total restructuring of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) in view of the changing trends of modern day mass media to make the DIPR more productive. He said this while chairing a review meeting of the Information and Public Relations Department at his office conference room at Jata Bhawan on Tuesday evening. Sonowal also issued a series of directions for preparing a comprehensive roadmap to ensure swift and seamless dissemition of government messages to every nook and corner of the State.

 “Along with the print media, electronic and social media today enjoy significant command over the information dissemition system, the existing directorate would deal with the print media, whereas the new directorate would look after the electronic and social media,” Sonowal observed.

The Chief Minister also laid stress on speedy redressal of grievances of media persons and media houses and asked the department to take steps for early filization of the new State Advertisement Policy.

Underscoring the role of media in building cohesiveness and harmony in a society, the Chief Minister also directed the department to institute awards to encourage young media persons who play a significant role in generating positive temperament in society through their news reports in both print and electronic media. He directed the I&PR Department to prepare modalities for presenting six such awards every year, out of which three awards should be for photo and video jourlists.

The Chief Minister also asked the department to take steps for the setting up a state-of-the-art Media Convention Centre in Guwahati providing avenues for intellectual discourse and media congregation. Sonowal also directed the I&PR Department to organize a two-day All India Media Meet with participation of reputed jourlists of tiol and regiol media.

The Chief Minister also suggested the department to expand its network of services focusing more on the rural areas. He asked the department to increase the coverage of its fixed loud speaker services in the villages, hills, sars and the tea garden areas.

Moreover, issues related to press accreditation cards, exposure tour of media persons and strengthening the Directorate were also discussed at the meeting.