The need for growth of the print media in the hill districts
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 18 2011 -
Almost all news coverage of events in the hill districts and the valley area are being done by media houses based in the valley area. This needs to be changed.
And in order to effect the change it is essential that the print media gets established in the hill districts. By this we do not mean opening up of branches of valley based media houses.
We are rather referring to the establishment or growth of the vernacular press in the hill areas. Some could argue that a vernacular press in the hill districts already exists. We know what they are referring to, and we wish to make a few clarifications.
The products of the vernacular press as it exists now in the hill districts of Manipur appear more like newsletters.
Whether it be pamphlets or one pagers, is of no serious concern, the real goal is to ensure that the editors and publishers of the vernacular press in the hill districts share a professional relationship with its counterpart in Imphal.
What media persons in the hills and the valley ought to concentrate on is sharing knowledge of the difficulties of news coverage, reporting and publication. We can also share common knowledge of the difficulties faced by the publishers. Next we can discuss thoroughly the political and extraneous factors which impinge upon our work.
Apart from this we can share skills, technology and acquired knowledge, all for mutual benefits. We can stand on the common platform of emoting a mutual love and respect of our fraternity, and stand in solidarity. In fact, together we can act as the conscience of the general public.
Here again we might be dissuaded from any further activities because people may say all these defined goals and objectives are already within the ambit of the programme of the 'All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU). The last thing one wishes to do is to throw a spanner in the difficult and worthy task of the AMWJU.
What is being suggested in this write up is something quite different. The emphasis we would like to make is more of a nurturing of individual, or small group interactions. One wishes to seek not formal meetings but to work out methods of personal contacts.
But what really justifies this tall and seemingly untenable task ?
The real purpose is, that we, as normal citizens engaged in a difficult and unenvious profession face great hardship from various quarters in our line of duty.
If we understand that we face common problems, it is hoped we can sympathise and empathise with one another's difficulties.
The Hueiyen Lanpao welcomes reporters, journalists, editors and publishers from any district to share, understand and overcome common difficulties and also to be aware of common responsibilities.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.