GUWAHATI, March 25 - The North East Union of Working Journalists (NEUWJ) � set up to provide a common platform to professional journalists of the northeastern region � got off to a rousing start with its first convention at the Guwahati Press Club today.
Chaired by veteran journalist and NEUWJ President Joykanta Sarma and graced as chief guest by Pradip Baruah, Editor of Prantik, Shashi Phukan, Editor of Bismoi, and journalist Samudra Gupta Kashyap, the convention discussed several issues related to journalism and news coverage in the Northeast, a press release said.
Baruah dwelt upon the need for a receptive mindset that would enable journalists of the region to master various tongues for effective communication, while NEUWJ Working President Nava Thakuria spoke of the need to put up a united front for journalists of the region faced with many common problems as well as existential threats looming over mainstream media.
Kashyap, while drawing upon his wide experience travelling across the rugged terrain of the region for news coverage, said stories are just waiting to be discovered for the enterprising journalist.
�When I began my career in The Indian Express, I was the only scribe hailing from this region. Happily, times have changed so that hundreds of keen young journalists from the Northeast are now manning major national media houses,� he said.
A souvenir edited by NEUWJ General Secretary Manoj Agasti was released by Phukan, with contributions by K Vikram Rao, SG Kashyap, Bijoy Gurung, Snehasis Sur, Kenter Joya R, Prasanta J Baruah, Bibekananda Choudhury, Prakash Mahanta, Rupam Baruah, Ranjit Hazarika, Dr Satyakam Borthakur, Raman Bora, Hiren Sarma, Mubina Akhtar, KR Kamath, Rubee B Das, Oken Jeet Sandham and Bijoy Kumar Sharma.
