National Press Day observed across Assam

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: The Tinsukia district administration, in association with DIPR Tinsukia, observed National Press Day-2020 along with the rest of the country to commemorate establishment of Press Council of India on November 16, 1966, in the presence of journalists from across Tinsukia district at the DC's conference hall. Similar programme was also held at Margherita and Sadiya under the aegis of the respective Subdivisional officers (Civil).

Chaired by Diganta Saikia, Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia, Dr Madan Sarma, eminent educationist, former Dean of Tezpur University and former journalist, was the invited speaker. Delivering on the topic 'Role of media during COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Media', Dr Sarma stressed ethics of journalism. He was critical about fabricated and biased stories being circulated in social and portal media while questioning qualification and responsibility of these journalists.

The programme began with tribute to journalist ParagBhuyan by observing one minute silence. Earlier, Bhaskar Jyoti Borah, DIPR i/c Tinsukia, presented a brief note on the significance of the day. On this occasion, the Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner was felicitated by Tinsukia District Journalists' Association (TDJA) and APCU. Senior journalist Amalya Khatoniar, Dr Rishi Das, president of TDJA, Robin Moran, president of APCU, also spoke among others.

LAKHIMPUR: National Press Day was observed by the Lakhimpur district administration and District Information and Public Relation Office in a befitting manner on Monday.

On this occasion, a special programme was organized in association with Bihpuriya Press Club at the conference hall of the press club. Bihpuriya Press Club president Bulton Gogoi chaired the programme which began under the management of secretary Jagat Borah. At the very outset of the programme, one-minute silence was observed praying for the eternal peace of the departed soul of deceased Kakopothar journalist ParagBhuyan and several eminent personalities of Lakhimpur district as well as of the State who breathed their last recently.

District Information and Public Relation Officer Mandira Chayengiya explained the objective of the programme along with the significance of the National Press Day. Then the district administration and DIPR office feted the journalists of the district, who were present in the programme, with a gamosa on the occasion. In the programme, prominent academician-cum-former journalist Jadab Sarmah and professor of Madhavdeva University, DulalMahanta took part in the programme as resource persons. They delivered speeches on the 'Role of media during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on media'.

"The media played an unprecedented role with regard to creating awareness on COVID-19 pandemic. Such journalism, from a district to international level, was not seen even during the World War periods or during any other problem which affected human lives and the society," stated JadabSarmah while throwing light on the stipulated topic. In his speech, Sarmah analyzed how COVID-19 pandemic situation affected the journalists and the media houses with its adverse effects.

On the other hand, Dulal Mahanta said that the pandemic situation had caused a new trend of responsible journalism across the globe. In his analytical speech, he also said that journalists and media should not delude and confuse the mass with imperfect reports on health issues.

In connection with the event, an interactive programme was organized among the journalists of the district. Journalist-writer Ranjit Kakati hosted the programme wherein senior journalist Majin Sonowal, Lakhimpur District Journalist Association secretary Manoj Borpatra Gohain, journalists Priyamjyoti Phukan, Ramesh Hazarika, Sanjib Lahon, Jagat Borah and many other journalists demanded the State and Union governments to ensure security to working journalists and their families while expressing the bitter-sour-sweet experiences of their journalistic life.

In the programme, ADC Bipul Kumar Das was present as guest of honour. In the same programme, journalist Jiyaul Ali was feted by the district administration for his courage while recovering a missing youth from Srinagar recently.

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