MEDIA IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PILLARS OF DEMOCRARY – ARJUN SINGH

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=27364

Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Ministry of Human Resource Development          


MEDIA IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PILLARS OF DEMOCRARY – ARJUN SINGH
        19:7 IST
Shri Arjun Singh, Human Resource Development Minister has said that
among the institutions that contribute to the makeup of a public
sphere in society, the media perhaps perform the most critical
function. While inaugurating the 'Media and its Responsibilities'
Seminar here today the Minister said the media is rightly acknowledged
as one of the important pillars of democracy. 'It is always
interesting to study how the media report and interpret political
events and issues, and how media itself influences the political
processes and shapes public opinion' he said.

Shri Arjun Singh said the face of Indian Media has been fast changing
on account of growth of Internet, the phenomenal rise of Satellite &
Cable networks, the continuing growth of regional press and blurring
of lines between news and entertainment. This has obviously led to
technological and commercial pressures and changes in professional
practices for the media sector. Against this backdrop, it is important
for small and medium newspapers to make efforts to occupy a special
place for itself in media sector.

The Minister said the small and medium newspapers are largely catering
to information, communication and entertainment needs of rural and
semi-urban India. They draw their strength from being local. One needs
to appreciate that people belonging particularly to rural areas
possibly would not have access to mediums like internet and satellite
and cable television. Their information requirement could either be
met by Doordarshan, Radio or newspapers. Thus, the small and medium
newspapers have a greater responsibility in dissemination of news
among the rural people. Therefore, it is very important for the small
and medium newspapers to grow in order to ensure multiple access to
media by everyone, including the poor and underprivileged sections of
our society.

Shri Arjun Singh said that he is aware that the issues impinging on
the growth of the small and medium newspapers are small scale of
production and lack of resources for continuous technological
improvements in its production process. Small newspapers, because of
their inherent disability to circulate in huge numbers, and their
localized nature, fail to attract enough commercial advertisements,
adversely affecting the quality of news gathering and the final
product i.e. newspaper. He said that in any case, the mangers of the
small and medium papers would need to continuously find ways and means
to sustain themselves and yet be an important source of information to
their targeted population.

S/Shri Bhishma Narain Singh, former Governor of many states, Sardar
Joginder Singh, former CBI Director, Dr. G.V.G. Krishnamurthy, former
Election Commissioner, Mrs. Deepak Sandhu, Director General (Media &
Communications) Press Information Bureau, Gurinder Singh, President of
All India Small and Medium Newspapers Federation and Tom Vadakkan also
participated in the seminar.

HB/RP/SL


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