By Reyaz Ahmed Ganai,NAK
Baramulla : To create awareness and develop a better understanding about the role of media in prevailing circumstances, one day seminar on ‘Role of Media in Prevailing Scenario’ was organized by Department Information district Baramulla in which luminaries, high rank district officers and media persons of entire Baramulla district participated.
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla Baseer Ahmed Khan was chief guest and Chief Planning was guest of honor.
Speaking on the occasion a renowned social activist and business icon of Baramulla Bashir Ahmed Kanroo said, “Media is the last voice of people, it should be people friendly not power friendly and impartiality which is fundamental of journalism hardly exists now as things are blown out of proportion by the media.”
Asserting he said that media should no sensationalize its reports and exaggerate them to the extent that they add fuel to fire but should be water to douse it.
Addressing to the functions senior Journalist of Baramulla, Karamat Qayoom said, ” While working in the conflicts zone, journalists have been bearing the brunt from power holding quarters despite all odds we have been trying our level best to report the ground with objectivity.”
“Much has been reported about the violence and the daily events now need of hour is to focus on grievances of the rural and far off areas which have received least media attention, said Qayoom.
Senior journalist associated with local news agency Amin Anjum while thoroughly deliberating upon the topic said that media in Jammu and Kashmir despite all odds perform its duty to report the truth but the there is immense need to focus on the other areas which remain least reported by media.
Sajad Hussain Correspondent representing a Pvt Channel ETV said “The abuses of power have been dominant in the conflict zones including our strife ridden state, Journalist are also subjected to harassment. But we lack public support.”
Adding he said that as members of Fourth Estate seek to obtain and report truth while much information is being classified and restricted.
“Role of media is vast and boarding its horizons with challenge globalization but it is media who can help in building up a good democratic nation,” said Pampoosh Rashid Danik Jagran.
Earlier, while welcoming the guests District Information Officer Baramulla Reyaz-ul-Hussan said that with the revolution in the Information Technology with deeply networked communications, role of media is widening with every passing day and these kind of seminars provide us an open podium to exchange varied perceptions and thoughts vis-viz role of media in the present times.
Adding he said such interaction of ideas will help us to develop a better understanding of media as public voice and are quiet instrumental in broadening the mental horizon and rendering optimum exposure to all of us and the up coming journalists.
The other speakers who deliberated upon the topic were, renowned poet and writer Prof Meshal Sultanpore, Chief Education Officer Barmaulla M.A Wangnoo, Altaf Baba Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Images Baramulla correspondent Reyaz Ahmed and chief planning officer Baramulla.