SHILLONG, Dec 12 � Established to give impetus to the Hill State Movement of the 60s, the oldest Khasi daily U Nongsai� Hima yesterday celebrated its 50th year of publication. Political leaders like GG Swell and others felt the need to have a local Khasi daily to reach out to the masses during the Statehood Movement, also termed as the Hill State Movement.
U Nongsai� Hima was one of them and reported extensively on the political movement that eventually paved the way for the creation of Meghalaya carved out of Assam in 1971.
�Newspapers like Hindustan Standard from Kolkata was not giving the correct perspective on the Hill State Movement and so the need to have a local newspaper was felt�, founder editor of the daily, Walter Maring, said on the occasion of the celebration.
With that objective, U Nongsai� Hima was established on December 6, 1960 and is now one of the widely circulated Khasi dailies of the State.
Recalling his days as a journalist, another former editor, GW Lyngdoh said that journalism has drastically changed over the years and has taken a beating in the recent past. �Journalists are acting as mouthpiece of those in power. There are journalists who report for their personal benefit. This is regretful,� Lyngdoh rued.
Ampareen Lyngdoh, Education Minster said, journalists owing to their proximity with politicians must be extra careful not to transgress their work ethics. �It�s not true that all politicians try using the media. Both politicians and the media must carefully segregate their professional callings, as the line dividing the two is thin,� the Minister advised.
