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Scribes should honestly serve the society, says Goswami

By Correspondent

TEZPUR, June 19 - Journalists should always be guided by their conscience and not involve themselves in any unwanted activities. This was stated by Hrishikesh Goswami, press adviser to State Chief Minister, while delivering his lecture in the open session of the two-day-long biennial conference of the All Assam Journalists� Union (AAJU) that came to an end on Sunday at Kawoimari Sankarmandir premises near here.

�One who leads himself with conscience, he or she is always helped by God,� Goswami said.

Taking part as chief guest in the event, he said journalists play a role of sentry of the society and should serve it honestly. �Be it a politician, be it an individual connected with the cultural field or literary world, most of them are originally from the field of journalism,� Goswami added.

But he also cautioned that a section of journalists is found involved in certain unwanted activities, maligning the image of media. He urged the journalists to work together for the establishment of truth in the society.

Urging the journalists to follow the ideology of Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, he stated that the Sarbananda Sonowal-led State Government is taking different steps for the safety and security of journalists.

In his speech, he mentioned that the Government is mulling to provide Rs 5 lakh to altogether 20 families of media persons who lost their lives due to various reasons. �The Government has decided to provide pension to reporters,� he said.

Speaking as an appointed speaker of the programme, Munin Bayan, executive editor of Dainik Asam, said the advent of new technology has created challenges for journalists. For making the society aware on different issues, reporters need to explore different issues of interests for their reporting.

�The vernacular newspapers are facing tough challenges these days. To sustain the Assamese newspapers, the number of readers has to be increased,� he added.

Bayan said journalists should develop sensibility towards the problems of the society.

He also stressed on the need to use social media with great caution. �If the social media is used by non-democratic forces, it can prove harmful for the society. Presenting a true picture of the society is the duty of the media,� he added.

In the programme, Sootea MLA Padma Hazarika, Dhekiajuli MLA Ashok Singhal, Barchala MLA Ganesh Kumar Singhal among others were also present.

In the programme, several mediapersons from across the State, including Utpal Pulak Kumar Deka, Snigdha Sikha Bora and Bipul Saikia were awarded the Kamala Saikia Memorial Award, Late Nirmal Das Memorial Award and Ruhini Medhi Memorial Award respectively.

The open session held under the chairmanship of noted journalist Bholanath Nath was conducted by senior journalist and central executive member of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Pankaj Baruah.

The open session was followed by a second delegate meeting wherein a 31-member new committee for the next term was constituted, electing Pankaj Kumar Nath as president and Nakul Talukdar as general secretary.

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