Narada was an efficient and socially conscious communicator and journalist. Having played the role of philosopher and guide for good governance meticulously, anyone who aspires to become a good journalist should follow Narada philosophy.
In the programme organised by Indraprastha Vishwa Sanwad Kendra on May 22 at New Delhi, three nationalist journalists Shri Sushil Sharma, editor, Defense Monitor, Shri Rakesh Sharma, and Shri Moti Lal were felicitated by the Narada Muni Award for their quality work in their respective field.
The programme was organised to celebrate Devrishi Narada Jayanti and honour journalists for their contribution and excellence.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Nand Kumar, Akhil Bharatiya Sah Prachar Pramukh, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said “Journalist should have full information about any given incident; should have the capability to analyse, collect factual information and, have a futuristic view about the incident.”
He also criticised cut and paste journalism and advised journalists to stay away from the growing clan of pan- cake intellectuals.
Nowadays journalists do not research well and do not go into the depth of the story, and often miss the much required intellectual honesty that is essential while reporting news. He said it is therefore important to choose a language that an individual is proficient in while writing or reporting news and be objective in reportage. He advised journalist to prioritise news by keeping national interest in mind, and gave example of late Manish Pitambare who was killed following a night-long gun battle in south Kashmir’s Bejibehara town on 27 November 2006, when he was a member of the 3 Para Regiment, and told the same day actor Sanjay Dutt also got bail. “Media chose to telecast Sanjay Dutt bail news and Manish Pitambare story was found missing and didn’t get the attention it deserved. The problem lies in how we are priortising the news,” said Nand Kumar.
Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director of the New Indian Express and the chief guest at the function said that it’s a proud feeling to be a swayam sewak. He said, “Journalism is facing lots of difficulties and the time has come to favor journalists of nationalistic view.” “If we have to promote nationalism then we have to change the style and face of journalism. TRP and circulation is an important aspect in media but we can’t ignore nationalistic prospect. There is nothing on Google related to nationalist forces, so the time has come to promote it,” he said.
He appreciated the work of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and said there is a lot to learn from them.
He gave the main mantra of Journalism to the journalist: “Fear None, Favour None”.
He said journalism is facing challenges from within, reiterating that the problem starts when journalist makes journalism a source of Income. He mentioned, the time has gone when journalists decides whom he will interview. Now, leaders and actors choose to give interview to the journalist who favours them; this is what is blighting media. Another harsh reality he said that is killing journalistic spirit is the fact that most channels and newspaper are owned by capitalists.
Reminding, isolation of national journalism is the biggest threat to country, Prabhu Chawla said, “Good journalism will be revived only when the journalists will be backed by their editors.”
Many of the Swayamsevaks are also journalists; the time has come to make them Narad, he said.
Other dignitaries present at the occasion were Shri Anil Gupta, Shri Ashok Sachdeva and Shri Wagesh Issar.
—Nishant Kumar Azad
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