The Press Council of India (PCI) on Monday announced setting up a committee to look into the problems faced by the small and medium newspapers in Odisha.
The announcement was made by PCI Chairman and former Justice Markandey Katju at the National Council Meet of the All India Small and Medium Newspapers’ Federation here.
“I further direct the Odisha Government officials to meet the above committee and discuss with it the advertisement policy, rates and other issues,” Justice Katju said while reading out a circular. He also said the State Government must consult the committee before changing the policy and advertisement rates.
Stating that small and medium newspapers are having 85 per cent of the total circulation of newspapers in the State, he said these newspapers are more intimately in touch with the problems of the common people.
He said that in Europe the media helped in transformation of the feudal society into a modern one. As India is neither feudal nor modern, the newspapers should promote scientific and rational thinking. It would help fight the evils of communalism, casteism and superstitions. The coming 20 years are going to be turbulent for the country and the media should play a leading role in the struggle against it.
Chief guest Governor SC Jamir said it is important to protect the interests of small and medium newspapers. The Press should be fearless and impartial in reporting about the evils like corruption which are plaguing the society. The freedom of Press is its greatest strength, but it comes with responsibilities, he observed. Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram said he has learnt the hard way that as you never should ask a woman her age, never ask a reporter about the circulation figures of his newspaper. Though the small and medium newspapers are struggling now, Unke Bhi Acche Din Ayenge, he said.
State Minister of Information and Public Relations Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said news is important whether it is published in a big, small or medium newspaper. But if it is exclusive news, it is better. He assured that the State Govt’s policy would be uniform for every newspaper, big or small. Among others, President of Small and Medium Newspapers’ Federation of India Birendra Singh and MPs Prasanna Patsani and Rabindra Kumar Jena also spoke on the occasion. President of the federation’s Odisha unit Bismay Mohanty presided over the meeting.