Tripura: CM urges Indian media to uphold glory of missionary zeal

Agartala September 9,2017: Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has urged Indian media to uphold the glory of missionary zeal by catering factual information and to be transparent in their profession as much as possible to retain credibility in this globalised world.

Sarkar was speaking at the opening session of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC) hosted three-day media workshop of Tripura Working Journalists' Association (TWJA) last evening on Balanced Reporting.

Recognising the role of media in opinion building, Sarkar said in present situation of the country journalists' were not able to pursue profession in an impartial manner and provoke independent thought because of dominant role of the party in power at the centre and the owner of the media house.

" I don't believe anybody is impartial in today's world so far as thought and belief are concern but it is possible to be objective in reporting. If media started pursuing balanced reporting, I feel it will cover different view from his or her perspective to be balanced but it doesn't serve the purpose until thought process of media and journalists are not objective," Sarkar underlined.

He suggested media personnel to pursue factual and objective reporting adding that most of the Indian media is now inclined to either side of the politics. And as a result, the societal issues are not reflected properly in the media and it becomes difficult to understand an issue unless one read at least 3-4 reports.

Followed by Sarkar, Chief of major political parties in Tripura BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb, CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar, Pradesh Congress president Birajit Sinha and president of IPFT N C Debbarma have interacted with the journalists and contemplated for a cohesive relationship with the working journalists. All the leaders condemned ongoing attacks on the journalists and media persons and demanded both the state and central government to ensure safety of the working journalists as well as to fulfil their economic and other demands by providing support.

"We believe unless journalists are not satisfied with their basic needs how can they serve the society and teach best things to our younger generation. There is an urgent need to address the issues of journalists on priority basis," said BJP president Deb.

While CPI-M chief Dhar stated that Tripura government has provided accommodation on priority basis to journalists in Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi. The left front government has started pension scheme for the journalists, provided infrastructure to press club and work for housing has started. More than 200 mid-career journalists from different parts of the state have joined the workshop.

Source: Agencies