Srinagar 03 May (KNS) : Department of Dean Students Welfare, Cluster University of Jammu organised Webinar on the topic Emerging challenges to press freedom and journalist safety to commemorate World press day dedicated to the theme “AZAADI KA AMRUT MAHOTSAV”.
The objective of the lecture was to educate the students about the freedom of press and unbiased journalism. About 80 students and teaching faculty from Constituent Colleges and PGI Schools of CLUJ participated in the event. Prof. Bechan Lal, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu inaugurated the event and lauded the efforts of the Department of students welfare for conducting a webinar on such a pertinent topic as free press is considered the fourth pillar of democracy.
He further said that it was important to understand the importance of this day as it serves as a call to affirm the necessity of press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals to think and introspect their enormous responsibility towards the Nation.
Ms Seema Tiwari, founder and Editor, News Standard India . Com media educator with a rich experience of 20 years as a Broadcast Journalist in Television, Radio and Web portal was the Key Note Speaker at the event. She elaborated on the dire need for the journalists to stop the breaking news culture and fact checking before reporting a story She further added that there should be an effort to understand the essence of news and not sensationalising ; and that journalism is about ethics and right information.She further said that physical and mental safety of a journalist is imperative to ensure information in the right perspective.
Dr Twinkle Suri, Dean Students Welfare CLUJ formally welcomed the participants and exhorted that a free , skilled and objective media is pivotal to strengthen democracy.She added that media plays a sacrosanct role in helping to make public participation meaningful .Honest and Committed media serves as a catalyst both to reinforce democracy and development.
Afterward, there was an interactive session at the end wherein students raised their queries.
Prof. Bhopinder Singh, Dean Academic Affairs, CLUJ, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, Controller Examinations, Dr. Geetanjali Rana , Dean Arts, Prof Sunil Uppal , Principal MAM College, Dr Sandhya Bhardwaj, NSSCoordinator, also graced the event.
The programme was coordinated by Dr. Banpreet Kour, Associate Dean, Students Welfare, CLUJ and also gave a formal vote of thanks. Prof Archana koul, Chairperson CCC, Dr. Kuldeep Raina Cultural Coordinator,CLUJ and Assistant Deans, Dr. Javed, Dr. Maansi Sharma, Prof. Sudesh Kumar, and Prof. Shamim Rather were present on the occasion.Dr. Revika Arora anchored the proceedings of the event.(KNS)