The National Press Day was observed at the Press Club here with over 100 scribes from print and electronic media besides common people attending it.
Club president Jayabardhan Das presided over the meeting. BMC Mayor K Madhavi was the chief guest on the occasion, while Prof Bishnu Charan Choudhury of the Berhampur University was the chief speaker. A seminar on ‘Role of media in natural calamities’ was held.
Chief guest K Madhavi in her address appreciated the role played by media in pre and post Phailin period in Ganjam which substantially helped the administration in timely conducting of relief and rescue operations.
Prof Choudhury said that journalism is considered as the fourth pillar of democracy and therefore has a major role to play in reshaping the nation and protecting freedom of speech. It is only media which can protect and save our fundamental rights, especially the right to freedom of speech guaranteed under article 19(a) of the Constitution, he asserted.
Among others, scribes Jyotiranjan Das, Abhay Kumar Padhi, Sudipta Sahoo, Prakash Pattnaik and J Pattnaik spoke. Rajendra Sahoo offered vote of thanks.