Varanasi,

03 May (HS): Kashi witnessed serious brainstorming on important topics like the

changing direction of the media, its credibility and responsibility towards the

society. Speaking on the topic Panch Parivartan: Society and Media

at Devarshi Narad Jayanti Seminar and Journalist Felicitation Ceremony

organized by Vishwa Samvad Kendra Varanasi at Gandhi Adhyayan Peeth Auditorium,

Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Jitendra Tiwari, Editor, Hindusthan Samachar

News Agency, spoke eloquently on the basic nature and current challenges of

journalism.

He

said journalism began as a mission aimed at bringing the voice of society to power

and giving expression to public sentiments. During the freedom movement,

newspapers played an important role in uniting the country by being the most

effective medium of public awareness. Citing examples, Tiwari said songs like

Vande Mataram were not mere compositions, but they gave new energy

to the freedom struggle by awakening the feeling of nationhood among the

people.

Tiwari

clarified that the media was created by the society and not by the

Constitution, the fourth pillar of democracy. There is no formal structure for

the media like the judiciary, legislature, and executive, yet society has given

it the responsibility to monitor these three and further the voice of the

public. He said that the real strength of journalism is the trust of the society

and this is also its biggest capital.

He,

however, expressed concern that journalism seems to be moving from mission to

commission over time. When the media gets entangled in power equations or finds

negativity only for the sake of protest, its credibility takes a hit. He

stressed that it is necessary to promote positive and constructive journalism

in the interest of society, so that people can have a picture of good deeds and

positive changes as well.

In

his address, Tiwari described the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's concept of

Panch Parivartan as a new direction for journalism and said that an

active and positive role of the media on subjects like social harmony,

environmental conservation, swadeshi and civic duties is the need of the hour.

He said that small efforts, such as environmental conservation or awareness

against social evils, can make a big difference to society.

The

programme was presided over by Prof. Anand Kumar Tyagi, while Hemant Gupta was

the guest of honour. The occasion was marked by the notable presence of various

academicians, professors and journalists. At the end of the function,

Shivshankar Pandey, Dr. Jinesh Patel, Vandana Singh, Adarsh Kumar, Sushanta

Mukherjee and Ashok Kumar Mishra were felicitated for their contribution in the

field of journalism.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi