'Mediapersons have to be responsive and responsible'

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: National Press Day with the theme 'Who is not afraid of media?' was observed by the district administration of Cachar in coordination with Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations in the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner with the presence of journalists, print and electronic, and leading citizens. Initiating the discussion, Rajiv Roy, ADC, said this day assumes significance as it reminds the journalists of their basic responsibilities and also commitment to serve the society and the nation. In fact, as he said media is one of the pillars of democracy and makes it strong.

Parmita Das, senior teacher of Mass Communication department of Assam University, spoke about the important role of media in giving guidance to people in general, besides dissemination of information on what happens around the country and the world. She called journalism often hazardous as mediapersons have to risk their lives. She said in discharging duties, many journalists have lost their lives. Their relentless pursuit of the profession is praise worthy. Their pen is mightier than sword and the wrong doers in society are put on trial. Media is looked at as a mighty institution ever ready to expose scams, scandals and corruptions in public life. One on wrong path has to be afraid of media, she summed up.

Jyoti Lal Chowdhury, a senior most journalist, said National Press Day reminds journalists of their adherence to free, fair and fearless journalism. These are the basic tenets on which good journalism stands. Press Council of India acts as a watchdog of the media and the media acts as the watchdog of society. Politicians, bureaucrats, officials, organisations and even individuals involved in corrupt practices are on their toes, afraid of inviting wrath of the press. The press is powerful enough to oust the President of America, Richard Nixon, of his chair for the most infamous Watergate scandal. This scandal was exposed by two journalists Carl Bernstein and Woodward.

The senior most journalist cited the case of Bhagalpur central jail blinding exposed by noted journalist Arun Shourie, the Nellie massacre by Sumit Mitra of India Today which shook the governments of the time and invited worldwide condemnation. The press has to be taken care of for its constructive role. This has been rightly said 'who is not afraid of media? Taimur Raja Chowdhury, Editor of leading Bengali daily, brought into focus how media in Barak Valley, 10 dailies, and a number of weeklies, have been working as a beacon light, earning appreciation of readers. Others who spoke on the occasion included Bijoy Kumar Bhattacharjee, Swarnali Chowdhury and Haran Dey.

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