“IT will be in the interest of the nation and the society that the media decides a limit of opposing and supporting anything. Liberalisation has definitely increased the influence of commercial mentality. Journalism is not free from it. It is a transition period and finally the truth will prevail. Need of the hour is that the good forces should become vocal,” said RSS Sahsarkaryavah Shri Suresh Soni. He was speaking at a function organised in Lucknow on December 5 to inaugurate a media studio.
Saying that the social and national interest should be supreme for the media, Shri Soni said the media could play a very effective role in this transitional period, as still there are many good editors whose articles inspire millions of people and agitate the society.
Senior journalist Shri Sushil Singh expressed concern over the growing commercial mentality in the media. He said earlier only a limited space was granted for advertisements on front page, but now the entire front page is devoted to advertisements. News has no value for the editors and owners of the paper. The institution of editor itself appears vanished which finally resulted in decline in credibility of the media and also increase in the ‘paid news’ tradition. He said advertisement is must but it should not be at the cost of credibility of the media. Chief guest Shri SK Kalia stressed the need to felicitate journalists.
Prof. Baldevraj Gupta, Group Editor of Express News Daily, focused on social concerns of the media. He said apart from good command over the language the journalists should also have good knowledge of new technology. Highlighting the emerging trends in cyber journalism Shri Sarvesh Singh of Uttar Pradesh Samachar Sewa said the journalists should have the knowledge of more than one language. Shri Vivek Mishra of MKCL spoke about website. Shri Ashok Sinha, director of the Vishwa Samvad Kendra also spoke on the occasion. RSS National Executive Member Shri Ashok Beri addressed the concluding ceremony.
(VSK, Lucknow)
