National president of Indian Media Centre (IMC) and Member of Parliament Chandan Mitra said that media should also concentrate on news related to youth, farmers and science that are development centres of the country.
While chairing the first day of IMC’s national conference, Mitra said that instead of working like a trade union of journalists, the IMC is working to build an intellectual
environment in the society. He hoped that soon, the IMC would reach in all the States of the country.
Chandan Mitra, also Editor-in-Chief of The Pioneer, criticised a few news channels for promoting superstitions. He objected to the statement of Indian Press Council president Marakand Katju, saying that Katju must work for the welfare of media and not for publicity.
Former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Joginder Singh said even with the presence of problems like paid news in the media the silver lining is still that the Indian media has succeeded in uniting the citizens bravely against terrorism and corruption.
Expressing concern over the corruption prevailing in Government departments, Singh said that media can be a strong weapon against corruption unless it becomes part of it.
Urban Administration and Development (UAD) Minister Babulal Gaur, who was guest of honour on the occasion, said that media should not only present the negative stories but should also present the positive and development works in front of the society. By giving example of former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narsimha Rao, he appealed citizens to grow faith on others.
Madhya Pradesh Council for Science and Technology (MPCST) Director General Pramod K Verma emphasised on the relations between science and media. He said that publishing of news related to science would spread positivity and confidence among the citizens.
Earlier, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication (MCNUJC) Vice Chancellor BK Kuthiala while introducing IMC said that the communication which grows in the society through the media has now become business. IMC is working for the welfare of media keeping financial profits aside.
Kuthiala introduced IMC Madhya Pradesh Chapter President and Navduniya Editor Girish Upadhyay.
In the second session of the conference, representatives from all over the country discussed about their organisational activities and the proposals passed. Addressing the closing session, author Vijay Bahadur Singh said that journalism from being a mission has now become commission. Journalists now work according to wishes of newspaper owner’s instead of their subconscious. These days, only honest people are being killed, he added.
In the elections held during the IMC’s national conference, Chandan Mitra has again been elected as the national president for the second consecutive time. IMC director and senior journalist Shyam Khosla has been elected as its general secretary. Election Officer Ashok Malik said that IMC national president would declare the national executive council later.
Indian Media Centre (IMC) passed two proposals on the first day of the national conference here on Saturday. In the first proposal it has been demanded from the Union Government to check cross media ownership, effective law should be formed with citizens’ support.
In the second proposal, it has been demanded from media organisations to maintain the purity of Hindi and other languages by avoiding unnecessary use of English language.
More than 150 representatives from 17 States have participated in the two-day national conference.