Paid, fake news degrade media's credibility: Govindas
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 17 2022: Press is considered as the fourth pillar of democracy but the current trend of paid and fake news has lowered standard and credibility of the media, stated works minister Govindas Konthoujam, while calling for monitoring media houses for transparent functioning.

Minister Govindas was addressing the gathering at the National Press Day celebration cum presentation of Manipur State Journalist award at MSFDS auditorium, Palace Gate, here, on Wednesday.

Attending as chief guest of the event organised by Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), he acknowledged that media has been playing important role in the nation building process from time to time but the credibility of media houses has been diluted to some extent due to the trend of paid news and social media intrusion.

While lauding courage of journalists, Govindas Konthoujam said that there had been numerous cases of assault and manhandling of journalists in the state but their spirit has not been bogged down by such incidents.

He also conveyed that the government is committed for the welfare of the people of the state which include the media fraternity and suggested that media persons work with determination and dedication for the welfare of the society.

IPR minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh, who presided over the function, said that authenticity of the news before publication needs to be checked as the number of media houses has increased nowadays.

He said that the speed of disseminating news is faster now because of technology and it may spread false concept to the people as well.

Negative news is topping the positive news which impacts the layman and this trend needs to be changed, he said and appealed to media houses to curtail the news while presenting to the masses.

Regarding dissemination of news and other social issues through social media, the IPR minister said that streamlining social media considering legal terms without complicacy is the need of the hour.

A seminar on 'The Media's Role in Nation Building' was also held as part of the observance with former editor Salam Bharat Bhusan as the moderator.

Senior journalists K Sarojkumar Sharma and Peter Adani presented papers on the theme.

As part of the observance, Manipur State Journalists awards were presented to media persons of the state working in different fields.

Recipients of awards included Sanaleibak daily editor Ningombam Hemantakumar for best editor on National Integration & Communal Harmony, Moirangthem Khagemba Meetei of Sanaleibak (public health & rural reporting), Robinson Wahengbam of Sanaleibak (art & culture), Taorem Bishwajit Singh of Sanaleibak (parliamentary reporting), Maibam Kenedy Singh of Sanaleibak (science & technology), Rabi Takhellambam of Sanaleibak (women and children) and Khumukcham Joychand Singh of Huiyen Lanpao (sports reporting) .

Fisheries minister H Dingo Singh, AMWJU president Wangkhemcha Shamjai, EGM president Khogendra Khomdram and MHJU president Peter Adani also attended the event as guests of honour.

Eminent media persons of the state, officials and staff of DIPR, students of Journalism and Mass Communication, Manipur University and State Institute of Journalism, DIPR also attended the observance among others.

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