Kodagu Journalists Association and Pathrika Bhavan Trust jointly celebrated Press Day recently at the Pathrika Bhavan in Madikeri. Keshav Kamat, President of Pathrika Bhavan Trust, inaugurated the program and said that although online news can reach people quickly, the joy and experience of reading a newspaper is different. Speaking further he said that effective news can be created only when journalists do any news keeping in mind about the topics who, when, what, where and how.
Associate Professor of Puttur Government First Class College, members of State Textbook Committee, Senior Journalist, Literary Dr. Narendra Rai Derla, who came as a resource person and chief guest for the press day, said that instead of press day, today should be called Journalist’s Day, it should be a day of self-reflection. Every journalist needs to introspect about social values. Let the press field work under the lamp, to help the society move in the right direction. The press field should continue to work as a light to guide the voice of the voiceless. He said mysteriously that journalists are just doing the work of calling bells just waking up us but they are not showing the way for us like a lamp. Dr. Narendra Rai Derla expressed his appreciation that the journalists of Kodagu is working honestly for the people even today.
Speaking further he said that the visual media has been telecasting for hours of death news in different forms. Beyond these, the news that responds to the grief in the society has disappeared. Presenting news in the visual media is moving towards artificiality today. He said that the value of news should be increased by encouraging journalists to be more mature towards news that is good for the society.
TP Ramesh, the founder and former managing trustee of Kodagu District Press Bhawan, speaking on occasion said that at present it is found that the capitalists are running the newspapers and it is a dangerous development which will threaten the freedom of the press. He said that newspapers are supposed to act as representatives of the citizens and opined that newspapers should help to lead the society in the right direction.
Five senior journalists of the district were felicitated on the occasion of Press Day. G Chidvilas, editor of Shakthi daily Newspaper, T P Ramesh, editor of Ghadinada Sanchari Newspaper, T L Srinivas, founder of News Agency, Telapanda Kavan Kariappa, reporter of Vijaya Karnataka Newspaper, Samyukta Karnataka reporter, K.H. Shivanna were felicitated by the guests with a shawl, a plaque and a fruit-bearing plant.
Muralidhar, the president of the association who presided over the program, said that this is the third press day since the association started. After Somwarpet, Virajpet now this year press day was celebrated in Madikeri and thanked all the members of the association who came to the program and also thanked the office bearers of association for conducting a nice programme.
Dr. Narendra Rai, who participated as the chief guest, distributed identity cards to journalists on the same occasion. Ujwal Ranjith, general secretary of the association welcomed, Anil H.T narrated programme and Madosh Poovaiah proposed the vote of thanks.
