SILCHAR, Nov 16 - Reflecting on the core values of journalism and the basic duties of pressmen, former director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, KG Suresh said that media must be pro-people and should show the mirror to those in power.
Addressing the media fraternity at the State-level celebration of National Press Day at Silchar on Saturday, Suresh in his speech on the topic �Reporting interpretation: A journey� said, �in the times of digital network proliferation, the media and the soldiers of the profession must know what is happening at the ground. The media must be pro-people and must feel the pulse of the people on the ground. It must also show mirror to those in power.�
On the recent verdict on the vexed issue of Ayodhya, Suresh said that the media in the country played a major role in disseminating positive information so that no untoward incident took place anywhere across the country. He termed this as the greatest spirit of democracy. However, he was quick to say that factual reporting is the need of the hour.
Hrishikesh Goswami, the media advisor to the Chief Minister of Assam who was the chief guest of the celebration, threw light on the atrocities meted out to journalists and reporters while covering news. �Financial assistance has been provided by the Government to as many as 32 journalists who sacrificed their lives whilst at work. The journalists are working with the objective to show the right direction to the society,� he maintained.
In the programme organised by the Information and Public Relations, Government of Assam, Cachar Deputy Commissioner Laya Madduri delivered the welcome address recognising the tireless efforts of the journalists and reporters from the Print and the Electronic media. She thanked Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for choosing Silchar as the venue for the all important State-level celebration.
As many as six veteran journalists of Barak Valley � Atin Das and Shantanu Ghosh from Silchar, Debdas Purakayastha and Santosh Kumar Majumder from Hailakandi and Ashok Kumar Bhattacharjee and Habibur Rahman Choudhury from Karimganj were felicitated for their rich contributions to the profession.
Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep Roy informed that soon a workshop for the media persons shall be organised here.
Minister of Forests and Excise Parimal Suklabaidya, Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar, all the BJP MLAs of Cachar district, former Union Minister Kabindra Purakayastha and the OSD to Chief Minister Shekhar Dey attended the celebration.
