Capt: Internet, dying reading habit challenges before print media

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 9

“I only got love from the media. In the past around 50 years, I never complained that somebody wrote anything against me,” said Capt Amarinder Singh smilingly while addressing the gathering at a two-day national meet, organised by The Tribune Employees Union in association with the Confederation of Newspapers and News Agencies Employees Organisations at Chandigarh University in Gharuan here today.

Saying that he always shared warm relations with the Press, the Punjab Chief Minister said the Congress government was against any kind of media censorship. “We want competition to grow. So people get news as they should be getting it, “said the CM, who was the chief guest at the first day of the meet.

Nearly 120 delegates representing various newspapers and news agencies across the country are participating in the meet to discuss several key issues, including latest challenges before the newspaper industries and their employees, safety and security of field journalists, constitution of new wage board etc.

Going down the memory lane when he was in the Army, Capt Amarinder Singh shared his experiences with the participants how they used to anxiously wait for newspapers while camping in Army bases.

The CM added that the main challenges before the newspaper industry included social media, inclination of children towards Internet and TV and declining habits of reading among new generation. “Besides, it is your (journos) responsibility to present the news in the right way,” he said.

Capt Amarinder also touched on the poor financial health of the state, claiming that the Punjab has no money for its schools, colleges, roads, hospitals etc. “We are doing our best to put the state back on track,” said the Chief Minister while making it clear that he would not stop the screening of the controversial film ‘Padmavati’ in the state.

Earlier, after welcoming the CM, Anil Gupta, president, The Tribune Employees’ Union, apprised him of various issues/challenges related to the mediapersons.

Demanding introduction of a national media safety law, the speakers, included Anil Gupta, MS Yadav, general secretary of the confederation and SN Sinha of the IJU, touched on various issues of newspaper employees, freedom of press, recent attacks on journalists, setting up a media commission, curbs on certain electronic channels by the previous government, abolishment of contract system, constitution of new wage board here etc. A souvenir of the Tribune Employees Union was also released on the occasion.

Among those present were Mohali MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu, CU Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu, the Punjab Chief Minister’s media advisor Raveen Thukral, president of the Indian Journalists Union KB Pandit and president of the All India Newspaper Employees Federation SD Thakur.