DIO offices
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 08 2017: IPR Minister Thongam Biswajit today announced that offices of District Information Officers (DIO) would be opened and activated at all the districts including the seven new districts created last year .

Biswajit was speaking at the launching function of one-year Diploma Course in Journalism and Mass Communication in the State Institute of Journalism, DIPR held at Moirangkhom today .

Addressing the gathering, the Minister stated that journalism is a unique profession and those in this field can criticise the Government's wrongdoing .

It is media which have been disseminating information to the masses.

As such, it is crucial to make all the offices of DIOs fully functional so that maximum number of people know about Government's different plans, schemes and activities .

Journalism is always associated with multiple challenges.

Media have the right to publish Government's failures and achievements but all news items must be authenticated before publication, Biswajit stated .

In this age of information technology, print media is still a crucial medium, he said.

The Minister continued that the people still has the habit of clarifying all news that they see on social media platforms with the morning newspaper or other forms of media .

Minister Biswajit also said "Since we live in a conflict zone, media must be extra sensitive and disseminate quality information to the public" .

The Minister also said that a deadline has been set to complete the Keishampat building of DIPR by December this year .

The Minister also lauded the State journalist community for their efforts in disseminating news to the public .

In his speech, IPR Commissioner K Radhakumar Singh said in today's age of Information Technology, DIPR is also moving in the right direction .

"Today, we have youngsters who are computer savvy as well as trained staff", he said .

Delivering the key-note address, IPR Director Meghachandra Kongbam said the State Institute of Journalism was set up in 1992 .

Following its inception, the institute had initially conducted two-week courses, which was followed by a six month long certificate course, he said adding that the institute is now conducting week long courses in the hill districts .

The courses are aimed at imparting the basics of journalism to those who want to venture into the media profession, he said .

Altogether 30 students have been selected for the course.

Today's inaugural function was attended by officials and staff of the IPR, Editors of different dailies and students selected for the course among others.

Comment