Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma celebrated National Press Day in Shillong and made an announcement of major upgrades to journalist welfare schemes.
The government will increase financial aid to families of deceased journalists, provide support for those facing hardships, and offer enhanced disability and illness assistance.
Sangma informed that the government will enhance financial assistance to support the next of kin of deceased journalists from Rs1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakhs. He said journalists suffering permanent disability will receive Rs. 3 lakhs, up from Rs. 50,000.
Also journalists facing extreme hardships due to illness will also receive Rs. 3 lakhs, increased from Rs. 50, 000.
He also announced that a new committee, to oversee press welfare backed by a Rs. 35 lakh corpus fund, will soon be constituted.
Sangma stressed that the National Press Day is an occasion when a journalist has to look back and reflect if goals have been met and what contribution has been made.
“For the press it is very critical to maintain a balance between freedom and responsibility and these can be your guide to achieve the targets and objectives that you have set for yourself,” he said.
Speaking on the ‘Changing Nature of the Press’ that was also the theme of the National Press Day celebrations, the Chief Minister said that there is a very thin line of difference between news and information.
“We are at a particular crossroad where the line of difference between news, information and updates is not clearly drawn and the readers and public at large is not able to judge what is actually a news or otherwise and the media and the professionals have to ensure that this differentiation is clearly defined and this is the challenge that we are facing and this is also then changing nature of the press,” he said.
Sangma added that the government looks forward to working with the press and the media to create the necessary policies, laws and regulations while maintaining the delicate balance between regulation and the freedom of the press while providing news and information to the public.
He also stressed on the need to have capacity building programs and training for journalists, “Like in every other profession journalists also need to be given training and exposure to keep up with changing and evolving trends in press and journalism and it is on these lines the government has organised inter district exposure trips for some journalists so that they can see firsthand activities happening at the grass roots and we hope to expand this program to the national and even international exposure trips,”
The Chief Minister further urged the members of the press fraternity to move ahead with a sense of purpose adhering to the basic principles of truth and trust.
“No matter how the dynamics of a sector might change the principles and values of trust and truth will not change and if we stick to these principles, we will be on the right track,” he said.
Commissioner & Secretary Vijay Mantri, gave a brief overview the genesis, history and significance of Press Council of India and National Press Day.
Lauding the efforts of the Shillong Press Club (SPC) in taking the initiative for the celebration of the National Press Day he said, “I have seen high journalistic standards and ethics in Meghalaya in comparison to many other states,” he remarked.
He elaborated on the changing nature of the press and the need to adapt and regulate and keep up with the changing trends.
Also present were Information and Public Relations Director Malthus Sangma, SPC president Deimaia L Siangshai, Meghalaya Editors and Publishers Association (MEPA) president R.M. Shabong, students of English and Foreign Language University and others.
Earlier, a session of fact-checking was conducted by Managing Editor of Boom Live, Jency Jacobs and a sensitization programme on HIV/AIDS by the Meghalaya Aids Control Society.
