MORIGAON, March 2 - The 13th triennial conference of the Journalists� Association of Assam (JAA) got under way at Jagiroad College today with the participation of 110 scribes from different districts of Assam.
The programme started with flag hoisting by DN Chakravartty, president JAA. This was followed by opening of the delegates� session by Pragnananda Choudhury, member, Press Council of India and president, National Union of Journalists India (NUJI). Addressing the gathering, Choudhury said that despite several challenges faced by Indian journalism, the press has been playing an important role in the biggest democracy of the world. News is sacred and a political or partisan role should not be played by journalists, he added.
In the meeting, Shiv Kumar Agarwal, general secretary, NUJI and Rajat Gupta, editor, Rashtriya Khabar also spoke.
A 31-member executive committee of the Journalists� Association of Assam with DN Chakravartty as president and Dalim Phukan as the general secretary was also formed in the meeting for the next three-year term.
