2 June : Chief Minister, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that every section of the society including Media was passing through a crises of credibility and added that the need of the hour was to re-establish the eroded values for sustaining the healthy society. He was speaking on the occasion of Patrakar Samman Samaroh organised by Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Shimla to mark the Devrishi Narad Jayanti here today.
Referring to the role played by the newspapers in Freedom Movement, Prof. Dhumal said that it was the strength of journalism that inculcated the spirit of patriotism and nationalism amongst the Indian which ultimately resulted in getting freedom.
Chief Minister also expressed concern over the growing commercialization of the media and selling space for promoting the views of particular individual organization. He said if this trend was not stopped this would prove detrimental for the country and the society as a whole.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that to promote the developmental journalism the State Government had constituted Awards for development Journalism. He said that National Award carries cash prize of Rs. 50,000, State Award Rs. 40,000 and District Award Rs, 25,000. He said that from this year the State Government had constituted Award for Electronic Media. The Best Story on National TV Network would get a cash prize of Rs. 40,000.
Those who were honoured with Devrishi Narad Samman are Shri P.N. Sharma, a Veteran journalist, Smt. Archana Phull, Bureau Chief of Hindustan Times, Shri Shishu Sharma Shantal, Correspondent, Doordarshan Kendra, Shimla; Shri Munish Banyal of Dainik Bhaskar and Shri Anil Dayal a free lance photo Journalist.
Chief Minister also honoured some writers and contributors for newspapers. Chief Minister lauded the Vishwa Samwad Kendra for organising the Samman Samaroh for Journalists.
Prof. Brij Kishore Kuthiala, Vice-Chancellor Makhan Lal Chaturvedi University of Journalism and Mass Communication, Bhopal, delivered his keynote address. He said that journalism needed to help in achieving of National interest objectives of eradicating social vices and servings the human beings in a true spirit.
He said that journalists were opinion makers and could mould the public attitude. He said that journalism took an important turn in eighties when it got commercialized.
Prof. Kuthiala said that instead of quality, quantity was being preferred in the media, which was a matter of concern for all of us. He said that media needs to adhere to ethics and values for the betterment of the society, which was the ultimate goal of journalism. He said that Devrishi Narad was a strong communicator or could he be called as first journalist, who symbolized an awakened and enlightened social reformer. He said that Devrishi Narad had to be a role model for Indian Journalism.
Shri Ashok Malik, former Assistant News Editor of Dainik Tribune delivered his presidential address.
Shri Narender Sharma, State Pracharak Head, welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and said that it was a maiden attempt of the Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Shimla to honour journalists this year and only journalist at Shimla Headquarter had been considered. From next year their endeavour would be to extend it to other parts of the State. He said that the purpose of honouring journalists was to re-establish the values for which journalism was known
Smt. Bimla Kashyap, MP Rajya Sabha, Dr. Daya Nand Sharma, Editor, Matribhoomi, Shri Kamal Sen, President, Vishva Samvad Kendra, Dr. M.P. Sood, Secretary, HPSEB, prominent Journalists, Senior Officers and prominent people of the town were present on the occasion.