‘We can take risk in journalism, if we follow ‘Lakshman Rekha’

‘We can take risk in journalism, if we follow ‘Lakshman Rekha’

Senior journalist Alok Mehta, Umesh Upadhyay, Ashok Shrivastava and Navneeet Anand address new students on second day in Orientation Programme in MCU

Bhopal, 27 October, 2020: Senior journalist and Padmashri recipient Shri Alok Mehta today said there have been challenges in journalism in every age. We can take risk only when we follow certain boundaries (‘Lakshman Rekha’). Today journalism is more credible because the eminent journalists in the past did not cross their boundaries.

Addressing the session on ‘Patrakaron ki Lakshaman Rekha’ during the three-day orientation programme of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Shri Mehta said journalists should make efforts to save credibility of media, which is the biggest challenge. Media persons should avoid news which create confusion in public.

Journalist has to be pro-people

Presiding over the session, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof  KG Suresh said ‘there is no change in basic principles of journalism. Only technology has changed. New media and digital media have democratized and decentralised the information world. Prof Suresh said a journalist does not favour opposition or ruling side. He favours only public.

Digital consumption has grown

Discussing with students on ‘New Media: Opportunities and Challenges’, Media Director and President of Reliance Industries, Umesh Upadhyay said use and consumption of digital media has increased exponentially in Covid-19 period. People in rural pockets are consuming digital content. At present, data consumption of an average person in India is 12 GB. As a student of journalism and communication, one must understand data and its analytics. News world has been limited in smart phone. Around 91 percent data is being used through mobile phones.

Quality of content should not be compromised in experiment

Senior Consulting Editor of DD News Ashok Shrivastava spoke on ‘Changing Dimensions of Television News’. He said television journalism has witnessed remarkable change in the last three decades. Experiments should go on in news and presentation but there should be no compromise with quality of content. He said TRP system should be abolished.

Public Relations simplifies communication

Talking on ‘In Post Covid World, Business will Require PR Vaccine’, Founder and Director of Grey Matters Communication Dr Navneet Anand said image branding and perception management is the prime area of public relations field. Public Relations officers simplify communication and motivate people for participation. Public Relations practice will be required as a vaccine for promotion of business in the post Covid age.

Valedictory session today

Editor-in-Chief of Business World, Shri Anurag Batra will interact with students on ‘Media Management’ at 10 am. Dean of School of Computer Science, UPS, Dehradun, Dr Manish Pratik will deliver lecture ‘Prospects in Computer Science Field’, at 11.30 am and famous RJ Simran Kohli will interact with students on ‘Future of Broadcast’ at 2 pm. Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Prof Sanjeev Sharma will be chief guest and keynote speaker of the valedictory function to be held at 3.30 pm. He will address on ‘Research in Communication: Indian Perspectives’. Vice Chancellor Prof Suresh will chair the session.