Infodemic is more dangerous than pandemic: Prof Suresh

Objective of journalism should be ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’: Dr Parmar

Journalists are bridge between public and health dept: Dr Singh

Bhopal, 09^th February, 2021: Former Vice Chancellor of Kushabhau Thakre Journalism University, Raipur Dr Mansingh Parmar today said that objective of journalism should be ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’. It can be materialized only when we create awareness. Journalism should always have feeling of public welfare.

Dr Parmar was addressing the inaugural session of media persons’ workshop on ‘Public Health and Evidence-Based Reporting- Newborn Care’, organised by Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal and UNICEF today. He said fake content is in abundance in social media. Media today is facing a credibility crisis. Training should be imparted in journalism especially related with science and health fields. Appreciating media’s role in Covid-19 period, he said, media in India prevented misinformation.

Keynote speaker senior journalist Shri Girish Upadhyay underlined the need for factual journalism. He said, health department should share information with media persons as factual and correct information will reach public through media.

Chairing the session, Vice Chancellor Prof KG Suresh said, Universities have social responsibility and this workshop is part of it. Health reporting is a serious issue and there is no place for misinformation and incorrect information in it because it directly affects common man. Today, it seems infodemic is more dangerous than the pandemic because identifying correct information has become difficult now. Journalists’ feedback is important because they work at the grassroots level, he said.

Deputy Director (Child Health) Dr Manish Singh detailed the progress and government’s initiative in preventing child mortality rate in Madhya Pradesh. In all, 81 percent deaths of infants happen because decision is not taken on time, he said. Communication Expert, UNICEF, Shri Anil Gulati said that such workshops will be held at district level as well.

Health expert of UNICEF Dr Vandana Bhatia also spoke on the occasion. Certificates were distributed to media professionals.

Coordinator LB Ojha shed light on the objectives of the workshop. Assistant Professor Dr Arun Khobrey conducted the programme and Registrar Dr Avinash Bajpai proposed the vote of thanks.