IMPHAL, January 7: The All Manipur Working Journalist Union observed the 41st Foundation Day of Manipur Press Club, at its Majorkhul office, Imphal today which was graced by Govindas Konthoujam, Minister of Commerce and Industries, Sericulture and Veterinary and Animal Husbandry as the chief guest respectively.
The function was marked by felicitation of former office bearers of AMWJU who have worked tirelessly for the welfare of the Union. During the occasion, Rina Chanu, Reporter, Imphal Times was felicitated on the occasion for achieving laurel during the recent 7th North East Media Sports Festival held in Guwahati. Likewise Ch Meghaberna Singh, Editor, Mannaba was also felicitated for clearing the All India Radio audition. Several senior former presidents and secretary AMWJU attended the programme. Among them, former AMWJU president K Madhumongol narrated his early days experience as journalist. N Tombiraj also recounted the history of the present Manipur Press Club building of how it came into existence.
AMWJU newly inducted member RK Nimai shared about his two and half years’ experience with Manipur Mail in early 1980s before he joined the state administrative service. While applauding the dedication and commitment of the present journalists’ fraternity, he said, “Unpaid and underpaid trend will encourage compromise in ethics owing to economic desperation. Media houses should recognise, understand and address this aspect to ensure the ethics of journalism. Some media usage of tone and tenor can be mellowed down a little.”
He observed that the State media has had a quantum leap in the last three decades with a significant support to the sprouting sports persons and related sports clubs. He acknowledged the devotion of pages to sports in the local print media and the generous slots for sports in the electronic media as well.
Geetartha Pathak, vice president Indian Journalist Union spoke against the trend of paid news and urged the State Government as well as the publishing house to implement the wage board for the journalist. “Media houses should understand that only a decent salary will usher quality journalism and counter the trend of paid news for survival among journalist” he remarked.
Oinam Nabakishore Singh, IAS, Chief Secreatry, GoM while supporting specialisation and ethics in every field including journalism is a good trend. On a critical note, he claimed that the news report in Imphal Free Press daily on 6 of January with the heading ‘Chief Secretary Nabakishore contradicts own statement in blaming NBCC’ was incoherent of the title and the content.
MLA Govindas Konthoujam while acknowledging that two lakhs per annum for maintenance might not suffice, assured the media fraternity that the matter will be discussed with the Chief Minister immediately.
W Shamjai, president AMWJU highlighted the various progress in relation to the welfare of the AMWJU members. He said the Press Academy and the Press Housing Colony will soon be officially announced by the Chief Minister himself.
In the occasion Oinam Nabakishore Singh, IAS, Chief Secreatry, GoM and Wangkhemcha Shamjai, President, AMWJU also attended the celebration as the guest of honour and president respectively. Geetartha Pathak, vice president Indian Journalist Union also attended as a special guest of the occasion.