Bhubaneswar: State-level National Press Day was celebrated today at the Information and Public Relations Department Conference Hall, focusing on the crucial role of media in democracy and the necessity of verifying news to maintain public trust.
Former Professor of Political Science at Utkal University, Surya Narayan Mishra, attended the event as the chief guest. He stated that the media has always had a clear policy towards the protection of democracy. Aligning with the Press Council of India’s theme, ‘Preserving Media Credibility in the Context of Increasing Spread of Misinformation,’ he highlighted the media’s responsibility to create awareness by providing accurate information and avoiding fake news.
Keynote speaker Dr. Debilal Mishra, Assistant Professor at Ravenshaw University, stressed the need for a thorough review of every piece of information before dissemination. He expressed the opinion that misleading news is harmful to both democracy and society.
The Director of the Information and Public Relations Department, Shri Anuj Kumar Das Patnaik, who presided over the function, noted the reliance candidates place on media information for various competitive examinations and success at many levels. He underscored the need for responsible media to avoid misleading news during broadcasts.
Director (Technical) Shri Gurbir Singh joined a Guest Of Honor and that stated that false news, even if unintentional, harms society and democracy, making awareness crucial for media representatives while broadcasting. Senior journalist Shri Pitabas Mishra also presented his views.
The consensus among the guests was that accurate news coverage and constructive criticism strengthen democracy. While acknowledging examples of self-regulated media protecting democracy and helping form society, speakers noted that the credibility of the press is being questioned today due to the spread of misleading information. Therefore, responsible media representatives must verify the truth of every news item before bringing it to the public.
On this occasion, an exhibition featuring old and foreign newspapers was inaugurated at Jayadev Bhawan by Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and I&PR, Shri Hemant Sharma. The exhibition displayed 501 newspapers and periodicals, including 93 periodicals, 17 foreign newspapers, 240 Odia dailies, and old newspapers.
The winners of the college-level Odia and English speech competitions were also awarded. In the Odia competition, Ms. Simran of Birla Global University stood first, Saswati Priyadarshini of Utkal University stood second, and Raatsha Nayak of Bakshi Jagabandhu Autonomous College stood third. The English competition saw Samina T. Gandwa win first, Krishna Priyadarshini Hota of BJP Autonomous College win second, and Archita Bhanja of Birla Global University win third place.
Shri Shashank Shekhar Dash, ‘Paperman India,’ was honored by the I&PR Department for his cooperation in the newspaper exhibition.
Deputy Director Sucheta Priyadarshini introduced the guests, while Information Officer Rosalin Sahu managed the program, which was attended by departmental officials, media representatives, and intellectuals.