Media ensures welfare of society: Tarai

Rourkela: Media has been serving as a watchdog to ensure welfare of common people and society, said Minister of Transport and Commerce, Subrat Tarai.

He was speaking at seminar ‘Hurdles in journalism’ as part of the state-level journalists’ conference organized by the Sundargarh Union of Journalists (an affiliated body of OUJ), Tarai said that media being the fourth pillar of society need to utilize its power in a constructive way. “In fact, a journalist faces a lot of hurdles in his life, but carries on his/her profession for the betterment of the society,” he added.

Tarai also observed that media persons should not be biased while presenting news. Besides, he also highlighted on Journalist Protection Act, a bill which is meant for the protection of Journalist, on which he said though it requires time to act upon these Acts to place in the House. So a high level meeting it requires with the present Minister of I&PR for the proper proceedings of the Act in which the Journalists in Odisha will get benefits of it. Further he also highlighted on travels benefits for the Journalists where he said it require a proper channel of discussions to act upon before the budget session of the assembly.

Senior journalist Ratan Pani spoke on the history of journalism. Describing the act of Journalists Pani said Journalism is like a mission to a noble profession. Speaking on the positive and negative side of the journalism, he said the trend of having various regional level editions of some newspaper is losing its credibility as there is information gap for the people of other region. This trend does damage not only to society but also differentiates journalists from place to place. On maintaining our identity we are day by day going unethical towards journalism.

Prasanna Mohanty, President of Odisha Union of Journalists (OUJ) dwelt on hardships of journalists. He said that nowadays corporate houses control media houses. He also said nowadays the Editor’s desk is over-ridden by the commercial section of the unit. Consequently the journalists are moving towards non-journalist stage by involving towards politics, business houses and on money making like paid news thereby losing credibility on being a journalist, he added.

Sushri Patra of Angul, Minakshi Nayak and Goutam Barik of Sundargarh district, Prasanjeet Sarkar of Rourkela were honoured for their great contribution.

While Kaliprasad Mohapatra delivered the welcome address, Anil Mohanty gave the vote of thanks. ADM, Rourkela R N Mishra, Satyananda Mohanty, President, Sundargarh Union of Journalists and OUJ State General Secretary Kailash Nayak also spoke on the occasion.