New Media has challenges to ensure constructive utilization of information: CM

Central Chronicle News
Bhilai, Oct 23: Journalists had an important role in preparing the background of the freedom movement. Gandhiji, Tilak, Pandit Motilal Nehru and Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi gave voice to the freedom consciousness of the country through journalism. The values showed by them are legacies for the new media. They established the role of journalism as a vigilant watchdog of democratic values.
Journalism played an important role in strengthening democracy even after independence. After independence, journalism emerged as the voice of the marginalized sections like farmers, forest dwellers and workers, said Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel while addressing a convention of journalists here at Bhilai on Saturday. This event was organised by Pradesh Patrakar Union.
Chief Minister said that journalism is facing a new challenge in the era of commercialisation and globalisation. Technology has provided an open platform for communication and expression through social media. Anti-national and social forces can use it to spread propaganda like communalism, casteism, hatred etc. To sustain the concerns of journalism, it is very necessary to deal with these challenges. Baghel added that we have a tradition of exploring the truth and having healthy debate. At the same time, we have a tradition of listening to the voice of opposition also. With the flow of information, many misleading news and misinformation are also prevalent. On exploring the roots of the information and studying the authentic history, many of such false information will be exposed. Attempts are being made to tarnish the history of India. On exploring the truth, the real picture comes in front of our eyes automatically. It is an important responsibility for journalists in the era of new media, CM said.
Veteran Journalist Ramesh Naiyyar said that every time he visits Bhilai, he wonders the glorious heritage created by the ancestors. “When I lived in Amritsar, Bhilai was very popular city. When I came here, I realized how rich heritage our great men have prepared. It is the responsibility of the media to save this heritage, protect it and pass it on to the new generation in an intact form”, he said.
Senior Journalist Ashutosh said that India has a very rich tradition of listening and understanding each other. At the same time, there is also a tradition of working together in the democracy. When the cabinet was constituted after independence, people of different ideologies came together and everyone worked with coordination. There is a popular saying – “Ekam Sadwipra Bahudha Vadanti” (People see truth from many angles). Referring to the story of Shankaracharya and Mandan Mishra and the debate of his wife with Shankaracharya after his defeat, Ashutosh said that there was a rich culture and tradition of debate in the country. Generation after generation, our ancestors have built a bright society. The challenge before the new media is to preserve the heritage of India’s bright tradition.
Senior Journalist Mukesh Kumar said that New India is creating New Media. Giving the example of the Capitol Hill incident in America, he mentioned the expected working style of new media. Senior Journalist EV Murali also addressed the convention.
MLA Arun Vora, MLA Devendra Yadav, Mayor Dheeraj Bakliwal, Antyavasayi Corporation Vice President (State Minister Status) Neeta Lodhi, District Congress Committee President Mukesh Chandrakar and others were present.