Embrace the importance of National Press Day as it's not only just 24 hours but each day press can breathe freely

Mumbai, November 16: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley inaugurated the National Press Day celebrations in New Delhi today. Briefing media on Thursday evening, Press Council of India Chairman CK Prasad said the winners of the National Awards for Excellence in Journalism will be honoured on the occasion.

 

Eminent journalist and Chairman of the Hindu Publishing Group, N Ram has been selected under prestigious award category of Raja Ram Mohan Roy award. Ruby Sarkar, Chief Correspondent of Deshbandhu, Bhopal and Rajesh Joshte of Daily Pudhari in Ratnagiri will share the award in category of Rural Journalism.

Prasad said the selection of the awardees was carried out by a jury comprising eminent working journalists, and senior editors, among others.

 

Delegates from neighbouring Press Councils of SAARC countries - Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives will be present on the occasion. The inaugural function will also include release of a souvenir.

The National Press Day is symbolic of a free and responsible press in India. It was on this day that the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog. The Press Council has been mandated by Parliament to improve the standards of journalism and maintain its freedom.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore has conveyed his best wishes to all journalists on the occasion of the National Press Day.

 

In a tweet, Rathore said, a responsible, objective media is one of the most important institutions for nation-building. Mr Rathore also greeted the Press Council of India for its commitment to maintain ethics and high standards in print media.