STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Calling for unbiased and constructive reporting, Om Saraf, the pioneer of journalism and doyen of journalists on Sunday asserted that the sanctity and ethics should be maintained while carving the sequence of events.
He said this while addressing a seminar on ‘Better reporting, gender equality and media safety in digital age’ organised by Press Club Jammu (PCJ) to mark World Press Freedom Day.
He further said that the media persons should be true to their conscious and must understand as well as differentiate between the use and misuse of the freedom of press.
Terming that the facts are sacred and comments free, the veteran scribe said, “Learning process should continue and a professional journalist should work in the interest of the society in a constructive manner rather than being destructive.”
Meanwhile, former Director Information K.B Jandyal, who served as member Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, in his address termed journalism as a social tool and an engine to empower people through information.
“There must be accuracy of facts, which should be fair and unbiased,” said Jandyal.
He asserted that freedom of press is relevant only in democratic set ups but not in autocratic or dictatorial institutions, which can be of great benefit and bring a change in the society.
IGP Jammu Zone Danesh Rana spoke on safety of media in digital age and threw light on issues of security of journalists while reporting from war zones and conflict areas besides commenting and sharing information on social means of communication.
Prof Renu Nanda Department of Education University of Jammu, while speaking on gender equality said that quotient of female journalists in Jammu and Kashmir is not encouraging and they should try their hand in this profession.
“Women should join the profession to prove their mettle and also to project the woes of fair sex in a right perspective”, she added.
Chief Guest on the occasion, former Vice Chancellor, Patna University and Director, Department of Journalism, IGNOU, New Delhi, Shambhu Nath Singh said that people’s expectations from the journalists are very high. He also said that the task of reporting and exposing is most challenging. “The reporter has to ensure his safety while executing this relatively tough task”, he added.
Vice President Abhimanyu Sharma also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, President PCJ Ashwani Kumar welcomed the guests whereas Executive Member PCJ, Dinesh Mahajan presented a bouquet to IGP Jammu, Danesh Rana.
Journalist Pawan Sharma conducted the proceedings while Executive Member PCJ Deepak Khajuria presented the vote of thanks.
