Jamshedpur: In today�s digital age, Journalists and journalism face the same challenges that were before them in earlier days. Today the challenges have only changed their form with changing media. This was observed on Friday by the state food and civil supplies minister Saryu Roy at a seminar organized at a hotel in Sakchi on the occasion of National Press Day under the aegis of the District Information and Public Relations Department, East Singhbhum.
Speaking as the chief guest, Roy said today�s readers are conscious of their rights and hence it is not easy to mislead them. The readers now understand as to why was a big news published in the inside pages. They read news according to their interests and wish.
Roy further said that there are 40 crore people connected to the world through the World Wide Web. But only a few thousand read news online, he said.
The minister advocated for the freedom of media in the country. He said media should be given a free hand by the ruling parties. Whenever a media house is guided by greed and ulterior motives, journalism suffers a blow, he said.
Roy said journalism had undergone change after Majithia Commission�s report. He said it was the responsibility of the government and the administration to safeguard the interests of journalists and provide them protection.
Earlier, the dignitaries inaugurated the event by lighting a ceremonial lamp. A welcome speech was delivered by the DDC B Maheshwari. A vote of thanks was proposed by the DPRO Urvashi Pandey.
Also present on the occasion, Jai Prakash Rai, Editor, Chamakta Aina, said print media still retains its acceptance and base among readers in the digital age. People still wait for newspaper to confirm various news, he said.
Braj Bhushan Singh, Editor, New Ispat Mail, said journalists are being subjected to repression by the government and hence challenges have not ceased to exist in their profession.
Neha Tiwary, Head of Department, Mass Communication, Karim City College, said a lot needs to be done for journalists who do not work only for money.