Truth Should not be Compromised in Journalism: Sunil Ambekar

The 12th Devarshi Narad Journalist Award Ceremony-2022 was successfully organised under the aegis of Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Delhi. The felicitation ceremony was held at Speaker Hall, Constitution Club, where 12 journalists were conferred awards in different categories.

Delivering the keynote address, Shri Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of RSS, said that unlike in other professions, where the emphasis is given to skill and knowledge, in journalism, a person’s integrity is also valued. “The person to whom we are giving training should be capable of accepting it. He should have the ability to use the power that is being given to him. He should not misuse his power and use it in the interest of society. Narad ji is a symbol of the power of journalism. Where power should be used in the interest of society,” he added.

Shri Ambekar said it is essential to take the side of truth in journalism. “One should not compromise with the truth; which truth do you want to convey to the people, public interest should be paramount in that. There is a great need for responsible journalism. Along with delivering the news, Narad ji used to tell the solution and show its path,” he said.

Emphasising the need for positivity in the media, Shri Ambekar said there had been a change in the environment. Today, the people of India want to move forward by becoming aspirational, people like people who talk favourable things, and unfavourable things are not good. In the media, too, people are moving forward with a positive attitude. There is a need for responsible journalism. Our freedom fighters made newspapers the medium of public awareness. Those freedom fighters are and should be the ideals of our journalism. We don’t need to be afraid of new technology. The technology shocks have happened in the past and will continue to happen.

Union Minister Dr Sanjeev Balyan said that journalism is critical as it affects every person in society. It should be in a positive direction and not in a negative way.

We should respect all views and opinions. Everyone is free to work on his ideology. Be it any ideology; it is essential to be fair in journalism. You don’t have to be for or against anyone. Whatever is the fact, it has to be with facts, and analysis should be done based on facts only, Balyan added.

Senior journalist Anand Narasimhan said the role of Devarshi Narad, which has been made in our mind, is not the whole; his role is much more significant than that. How many of us have read Narada Samhita? How many of us have read his texts, whatever language it is in? What did we write about our culture, and what did we say? Is our history the history of invaders or the history of India? The time is changing for the good.

Akhil Bhartiya Sah-Prachar Pramukh of RSS Shri Narendra Thakur, North Zone Prachar Pramukh Shri Anil Kumar, Delhi Prant Karyavah Shri Bharat Bhushan, Doordarshan Director-General Shri Mayank Agarwal, ADG Priya Kumar and other dignitaries were also present at the event. Shri Ashok Sachdeva, President of Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra, delivered the vote of thanks.