Media has to be vanguard of fighting ills: Naidu

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NEW DELHI, Nov 16, 2019 (BSS) – Indian Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu today said that media has to be in the vanguard of fighting the ills that are plaguing the society.

“In view of the critical role journalism plays in protecting democracy and in serving the larger good of the society, we should strengthen this important fourth pillar by ensuring that ‘truth’ is never compromised”, he said.

The Indian vice-president said this while formally inaugurating various events organized by Press Council of India (PCI) marking the National Press Day-2019 at Vigyan Bhawan here.

Noting that mobile phones are revolutionizing the manner in which we share information, Naidu said every smart phone user has become a potential journalist.

He described journalism as a pious mission for the cause of nation and urged upon all concerned in maintaining objectivity, fairness and accuracy in news for ensuring a democratic society.

Later, the Vice President gave away the awards to the winners of ‘National Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2019’ under various categories. He also released three publications of Press Council of India.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, PCI Chairperson, Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, Convener, Jury Committee and Member, PCI, Jai Shankar Gupta and Secretary, PCI, Anupama Bhatnagar were present.

Besides, representatives from the press councils of Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka attended the conference at the invitation of Press Council of India (PCI).

A four-member delegation of Bangladesh Press Council led by its member and Editor of the Daily Observer Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury arrived here on Thursday at the invitation of Press Council of India to join the National Press Day-2019 programmes.

The others members of Bangladesh delegation include Acting Editor of the Daily Sangbad Khandkar Muniruzzaman, BFUJ Joint Secretary Abdul Mazid and member of Bangladesh Press Council Md. Shah Alam.