Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Kashi, organised a function on Narad Jayanti to honour journalists. The journalists who were honouerd included Shri Vinay Kumar (Aaj), Dr Siyaram Yadav (Hindustan), Shri Rajesh Gupta (Sahara Samay), Shri Pradip Kumar (former chief of Kashi Journalist Association), Shri B.D. Yadav (photographer), Shri Vijay Singh (photographer), Shri Dharmendra Singh (Hindustan) and Shri Ramesh Singh of the Pioneer. Senior journalist and editor of the Pioneer honoured the journalists. Prominent among those who were present on the occasion included Shri Indresh Kumar, Shri Arjun Tewari, Dr Amitabh Bhattacharya, Dr Shyamsudner Shukla, Prof. Omprakash Singh, Dr Atri Bhardwaj, Shri Harsh Singh, Dr Harendra Kumar Rai and Dr Vishwanath Dube. Shri Chandan Mitra said the prime duty of mediapersons is to present the facts before the people, but is not being done by most of the media groups today. He said comparison of Sarabjit Singh case with Afjal Guru is an example of valueless politics. Speaking on the occasion Shri Indresh Kumar said the media played a key role in the freedom movement. Today also it needs to play the similar constructive role. He said Narad Jayanti should be observed as World Media Day. He exhorted that the growing commercialisation of journalism has promoted degradation in values.
(By Loknath)
