Rising Kashmir: Srinagar:
Saturday, May 04, 2013.
On World
Press Freedom Day a day-long seminar was organized by Media Education Research
Centre (MERC) at Media House Auditorium University of Kashmir here on Friday.
Speaking on
the occasion many journalists of Valley said they are working under extreme
pressure and highlighted the challenges being faced by media in Kashmir.
Chief
Information Commissioner J&K, G R Sufi who was chief guest on the occasion
informed the gathering including journalists, broadcasters, faculty members of
MERC and EMMRC, members of civil society and students of MERC about the
functioning of Right to Information Act in the state called it as a ‘public
authority.’
Sufi said:
“RTI Act is directly linked with the freedom of speech and expression. We live
in a democratic set up and one who doesn’t know its functioning has to learn it
so as to have access to information for the overall benefit of the society. ”
He termed RTI
Act as best tool for journalists to obtain information. However he said journalists of the valley are
not making full use of it. “2G scam and other corruption related news reports
came to fore only due to use of RTI,” he said.
Terming the
situation in valley as hostile for the journalists, senior journalist Shujaat
Bukhari said journalism is in threat from all corners with conflict being the
major one.
“We have
actually been in war with the situation itself. We have seen the toughest
times. We have tried to actually uphold professional obligations. We have also
been under criticism from both state as well as non-state actors,” he said.
He said the
media gag results in a situation where people rely on unauthentic information
thus giving rise to a chaotic situation.
Sharing the
experiences of her journalistic journey, senior broadcaster Nayeema Ahmad
Mehjoor said the field of journalism is always full of challenges and
surprises.
“At times I
have seen the worst of media curbs and at times I have enjoyed ultimate liberty
and these are the two extremes of the media world,” she said.
Mehjoor said
restrictions on media are in democratic countries as well and need of the hour
is to uphold freedom of media. “Truth has become casualty in present scenario
as whatever people are fed with is filtered first.”
Vice
Chancellor Kashmir University, Prof Talat Ahmad said budding journalists need
such kind of interactive sessions so as to get the insight of the real world.
“Our students
have to learn to use freedom judiciously and minimize the misuse. We need a strong voice to represent our
concerns to the outer world and for that we have to keep on striving,” Talat
said.
Prof Talat
said journalists should strike a balance and report events and news
professionally.
In his
address, Registrar Kashmir University, Prof Zaffar Reshi lauded the efforts of
MERC for organizing the seminar.
“These kinds
of seminars help the students to understand the practical realities of the
world. MERC should focus on producing talented journalists who can later become
assets to the society,” he said.
Head MERC,
Faruq Masudi said the role of the department is to produce journalists who seek
and disseminate truth.
“We are here
to produce people who seek and disseminate truth and at the same time protect
the right to freedom of speech and expression,” he said.
Masudi also
advised students of journalism to become well versed with technological
advancements.
Meanwhile,
the bi-annual magazine, Media times was also released by HoD MERC in presence
of other dignitaries.
Senior
faculty MERC, Nasir Mirza presented vote of thanks on the occasion and faculty MERC, Hakim Rashid Maqbool conducted
the proceedings of the event.
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