Nagaland Legislative Assembly speaker, Sharingain Longkumer on Monday cautioned journalists against sensationalism, and urged them to uphold ethical reporting, saying “What you say and what you write, remember, there are thousand going through it”.
He said this while speaking as the special guest at the Dimapur Press Club (DPC) Silver Jubilee celebration held at Dimapur Government College Auditorium on Monday, under the theme “Harnessing Media Vibrancy, Embracing New Frontiers.” Sharingain Longkumer, a former member of DPC, congratulated the club for completing 25 years.
He commended the role of journalists in advocating issues like women empowerment and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. He also acknowledged the contributions of the pioneers of DPC, whose efforts continue to benefit the media landscape today. He emphasized the importance of unbiased reporting in a polarized world, highlighting that while Nagaland has made progress over the past 25 years, there was still much to be accomplished collectively as a state and society.
Highlighting the theme of the event, Longkumer acknowledged the expansive and unlimited potential of press and media journalism in the 21st century. However, he urged the fraternity to reflect on whether the past 25 years had been used effectively. “We should question where we are and whether we are proud of what we have achieved in the past 25 years,” he remarked, urging the media fraternity to reflect and discuss this before embracing new frontiers. He also stressed that the press should move away from conventional news coverage and focus more on social issues. In light of artificial intelligence (AI) reshaping the media landscape, Longkumer encouraged media personnel to embrace AI but with caution and responsibility.
He reiterated the press’s role as the fourth pillar of democracy and expressed hope that the state government would address the concerns raised in the memorandum submitted by DPC during the event. The theme speaker, Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome, Deputy News Director for Asia-Pacific at the Associated Press, commended DPC for carrying forward its legacy and encouraged journalists to continue “fighting the good fight.” She acknowledged the challenges faced by journalists in India, where independent media often struggle to thrive, and urged editors to give more time to investigative reporting, which has a greater impact than routine coverage.
Speaking on the theme of embracing new frontiers, Yirmiyan discussed the role of AI in transforming journalism. She highlighted that the way news is consumed has drastically changed, with two-thirds of news now being consumed digitally. However, she cautioned against the spread of incomplete or inaccurate information in the digital sphere and emphasized the importance of adapting to new tools responsibly. In her short speech, Editor of Nagaland Page Monalisa Changkija, reminded the gathering of the long history of newspapers in the region.
She encouraged journalists to continue striving for excellence despite challenges, emphasizing that the core issue is protecting the institution of the media, which serves as the fourth pillar of democracy. Dwelling on the evolution of technology and the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, Monalisa acknowledged that technology has been rapidly changing and will continue to do so. However, she emphasized that the institution of the media, as the fourth estate, will remain steadfast.
“The core issue of protecting the institution of the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary, and the Fourth Estate is our main job— in other words, protecting democracy,” she stated. She also pointed out that the advertisement rates for the state government have not been changed since 2011 and urged the government to address this. Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang extended his jubilee greetings to DPC, thanking them for their cooperation with the state government and district administration.
He expressed hope that DPC would continue fostering the same spirit of cooperation. During the event, a memorandum was submitted to the chief minister through NLA Speaker, requesting several key measures, including a permanent office building for DPC, a pension scheme for journalists, enhanced operational subsidies, increased accreditation slots, and a distinction between journalists and social media influencers. The event was chaired by Kekhriesenuo Kiewhuo, with a welcome address by DPC president Imkong Walling and a brief history of DPC by Dilip Sharma, convenor planning committee. A special number was presented by Likivi Kappo, and vote of thanks was delivered by Honikali Lobe, DPC vice president.