Port Blair, April 10: A day-long workshop on Electronic Media & News Representation was organised by the Regional News Unit of All India Radio, Port Blair on 9th April 2012. The workshop was formally inaugurated by the Principal of Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya, Dr. Iqbal Ahmed. 

In his address on the occasion, Dr. Iqbal, the chief guest said that today there is a competition among media, especially electronic media to break the news first. This has its ill effects as it has been creating a negative impact on the society. With inappropriate and half checked details, such breaking news becomes a blunder. 

He further explained how technological advancement has helped in disseminating information across the globe with software that translates languages. Electronic media he said has not only become a part of life but at the same time, it is a medium through which a common man searches himself.

The Chief Guest further advised that while presenting news, media should be careful. Sensational news may attract people but leaves its negative impacts. News should be such that can be instrumental in developing a healthy society, he added.

Dr. J.D. Singh, Principal, Tagore Govt. College of Education in his address said, “Since AIR is spread all over the islands, people may not know you by face but through your voice”. Correct pronunciation of words matters a lot as a word wrongly pronounced leads to blunders. He therefore opined that there should be good coordination between the Editor and the News Reader to avoid such errors.

Dr. R.N. Rath, HoD, Political Science, presenting his views on the occasion said that no doubt All India Radio was the first electronic media in our country and radio was a status symbol. But over the years, there has been technological advancement and TV has stolen a share of the Radio. Unfortunately, TV has become an idiot box which has supressed socialisation. Such things happen when people are enslaved by TV, he said.

With the advancement in technologies, presently our country is passing through a transitional phase. Old values have been replaced with new outlook, he said. In such situation, Indian media should help the country to overcome this. Unfortunately instead of supporting the nation, Indian media is dividing attention from real issues. It is also dividing the people and promotes superstitions, Dr. Rath opined.

He also said that the services of All India Radio, Port Blair and Door Darshan, Port Blair is not in satisfying as it does not reach the rural populace. 

Among the others who presented their views were Shri M.H. Khan, former Director, AIR on the topic ‘Importance & values of News Based Programme of AIR’, Shri Sanjeeb Kumar Roy, Correspondent UNI on ‘Reporting & News Presentation for Electronic Media & News Agencies, Shri O.N. Jaiswal, former PIB officer on ‘The importance of news sense & news values in media’ and Shri A Dhanasekaran, Correspondent AIR, Port Blair on ‘The role & functioning of broadcase media – A vision for AIR news’.

Earlier during the workshop, Shri C. Mookan, Station Director, AIR how technological advancement has made news reporting easier.  Shri DVS Deep of AIR, Port Blair had welcomed the gathering and acted as coordinator during the entire workshop.