Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Kohima Press Club (KPC) and Mokokchung Press Club (MPC) celebrated National Press Day on November 16 under the theme, “Who is not afraid of media”.
According to DIPR report, the state level National Press Day in Kohima was graced by advisor to chief minister, Abu Metha.
In his speech, Metha said that the DIPR was called as the propaganda machine of the government that is in power but that narrative has changed with the passing of time.
In this regard, he asked the department to step out of the old narrative and contribute more towards the new story of Nagaland.
The department has a number of efficient, smart and capable officers and that the State government, policy makers and the implementers should give more focus to the department, Metha said.
He also said that the policy makers have to understand the new dynamics of this new age and asked the government to help create new roles and strategies for IPR department. Metha further urged the department and the media houses to tell the success stories of the state despite the hurdles and the challenges faced, because every success story inspires and motivates people.
The advisor also said that there is a huge disparity between the media houses in Nagaland and outside the state. Therefore, the government and the Naga society as a whole should put its mind together on how to empower the media and how to make them benefit more. He asked the media in Nagaland to confront the truth and not to be afraid of the truth.
Metha also said that merely claiming to be the fourth pillar was not enough, but walking that extra mile will ensure that there will be growth in the fourth pillar of democracy. He therefore urged the press and media houses to give more focus on investigative journalism. Director, IPR, Er. Z. Tokishe Sema in his exhortation stated that National Press Day was celebrated to honour and acknowledge the Press Council of India which acts as the modern watchdog of free and fair press in the country. The programme was chaired by Deputy Director, IPR, Simon Telia.
KPC: KPC along with the rest of the media fraternity observed the National Press Day at Hotel Eastgate here on Tuesday, with renowned peace activist Niketu Iralu and associate editor of Morung Express Dr. Moalemba Jamir as the guest speakers.
Deliberating on the topic “Who is not afraid of Media?”, Iralu said freedom of the press guaranteed in the constitution was now being subjected to crippling manipulations with impunity in different parts of the country. This, he said revealed “fear and wilful determination to put what I want first before what was right for all and the world.”
Citing from World Press Freedom Index, 2021 where India ranked 142 out of 180 nations, Iralu said this gives a picture of where things in the country stands and where it was headed.
He added that India ranking lower than countries like Philippines (138) run by Duterte and just a few places higher than countries like Myanmar and Russia (150) had revealed the extent of damage done to the freedom of press.
“We are seeing narcissistic autocrats of the Left and Right rejecting government by the free will of the people and for the people, based on the rule of law, no longer concealing their iron fists. This trend is spreading menacingly across the globe,” Iralu said. He observed that the geopolitical and racial location of “our homeland” was going to either be a curse or a near-unique exciting opportunity.
Iralu said Nagaland was stuck between superpowers India and China and that their growth would shape us in ways we would find extremely difficult to correctly cope with. However, he said our crisis would not impinge on them except the most ethnically sensitive and humanist among them.
On that note he said, although Nagas were fragile they were fiercely self-conscious ethnic minority and therefore they would have to learn how to work out how to survive and grow properly instead of destroying themselves by their panicky responses to the challenges that may come.
Associate editor of Morung Express, Dr. Moalemba Jamir in his speech said a person do not need to fear the media if they have not done anything wrong.
He added that since media houses in Nagaland were dependent on the government advertisements to generate their revenue, he said government should clear the pending bills.
He said the dependency of media houses on the government in the State was because there was no significant corporate sector.
KPC president Alice Yhoshü delivered the keynote address and also announced the KPC Impact Journalism Award 2021 which was awarded to principal correspondent of Morung Express, Imkong Walling. She disclosed that after a thorough scrutiny by KPC, Walling was chosen for the award after his extensive works in highlighting problems in the energy sector in the State.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by KPC general secretary, Atono Tsükrü Kense while invocation was pronounced by Rana Chetri.
MPC: Mokokchung Press Club also observed the day by hosting a small programme at Hotel Metsüben with editor Ao Milen, Akangnungsang Jamir as the special guest.
In a brief programme, MPC president, Limalenden Longkumer welcomed everyone and gave a short significance of the day.
In his speech, the special guest said that the fourth estate has a big responsibility in voicing the opinions of the people. He also said that reporters and media persons should not merely be considered as photographers or event reporters but journalists should live upto their mark and work with zeal towards quality news.
Concluding remarks of the event was given by MPC secretary, Sashimeren Jamir, which was followed by an open discussion on the day’s theme “Who is not afraid of Media?”