Inaugurating the National Press Day function here as chief guest, Supreme Court Justice Dipak Misra said, “Media plays an important role in a democracy by safeguarding the interest of common people, especially of the marginalised section and shaping public opinion and bringing societal reforms.”
The function was organised by by the National Journalist Welfare Board in association with Press Information Bureau and Directorate of Filed Publicity, AIR, Cuttack, DD, Bhubaneswar and AMIT, Bhubaneswar
He said media always works as an interface between the Government and the public and helps in empowering society and achieving growth. However, at the same time, Mishra advised that media should adhere to the norms of sheer objectivity and truth and function with responsibility.
Keeping his views as chief speaker, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Damodar Rout said media can check erosion of moral and ethical values in society and advised the young journalists to refrain from sensationalism and follow their seniors as mentors and ideologues.
State Planning Board deputy chairman and former Minister Surendra Nath Naik asserted that with the advancement of society, the role and responsibility of media would be larger and hoped that journalists would work with a mission to reform the society.
National Journalist Welfare Board president Pradosh Patnaik presided over the function. He said that the board’s function is not limited to trade unionism alone. Rather, it is making sincere efforts for the interest of the scribes, including providing facilities like pension and insurance, he informed.
A seminar on ‘Role of media in serving public interest’ was held where Agriculture Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, MP Prasanna Patasani, MlAs Bijaya Mohanty and Ashok Panda, DD Bhubaneswar Centre Assistant Director SS Dhada and AMIT director TN Mohanty, among others, spoke. Some journalists were honoured while several others were entitled to pension and insurance facilities. Board vice-president Pradyumna Kumar Mohanty gave vote of thanks.