Mahajan calls for value based journalism at the 51st convocation of IIMC

 

New Delhi, December 8: The Loksabha speaker, Sumitra Mahajan addressing the 51st convocation of the Indian Institute of Mass Communcation in New Delhi, observed that communication is most effective in one’s own language. She stressed on media’s use of regional languages other than Hindi and English for effective communication. The Loksabha speaker awarded medals and certificates to the top performing students of the institute.

Other than English, Hindi, Marathi and Malyalam, students also graduated in the Sanskrit journalism course for the first time. Loksabha apeaker also inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Marg in the campus and a digital news portal developed in Sanskrit by the IIMC students.

 

 

 

In her convocation address, Mahajan urged media to be responsible while reporting. She also said that the media should refrain itself from sensationalising any issues of public interest. She said, responsible media helps in the development of democracy.

Focusing on the media reports concerning women’s safety in the country, Mahajan claimed it to be nagative. “Don’t women travel on roads… then people say women are not safe in India. When I go abroad, people ask me ‘what’s happening in India, madam. Your country is not safe now. I tell them that for the last 75 years I am in India, nothing has happened to me, my daughter or daughter-in-law. There’s nothing like that. It happens in your country also… in every country,” she said.

 

“Yes, people commit crimes. But, is it that only crimes are happening and nothing else? Politically, is only abusive language being used or something significant is also being spoken about,” Mahajan added further.

“Discussions do take place, but many a time newspapers don’t even carry the good things being spoken about in Parliament,” she said in relation to the media’s approach toward reporting the parliamentary and political covers.

 

Mass Communication has emerged as a major area of interest and has immensely contributed to the development & empowerment of society. The information technology revolution has significantly contributed to the expansion of mass media. It has also posed major challenges for students, teachers and practitioners of mass media.

IIMC enjoys pride of place in mass communication education, training and research. This is also reflected in various evaluation studies undertaken by media and professional bodies year after year.