‘Media industry booming in Barak Valley’

Silchar Press Club organizes journalists’ workshop

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, Jan 11: In view of the growing media industry in Barak Valley, the Silchar Press Club organized a journalists’ workshop at its premises today. The workshop was attended by distinguished journalists and other dignitaries who also participated in the various themes of the workshop titled –– “language of the media in Barak Valley : credibility and acceptability,” “Subject oriented knowledge behind the success of journalism,” “Journalists have to face the challenges of time,” “Growing number of newspapers responding to needs of readers,” “Ways to make electronic media credible and attractive,” “Hurdles faced by electronic mediapersons,” and “The future of electronic media in the Northeast.”

The keynote address at the workshop was delivered by Press Club general secretary Shankar Dey and the workshop was presided over by Silchar Press Club president and editor of Silchar Times, a Bengali daily, Sanat Kumar Koiri.

While delivering his speech, Dey said, “Barak Valley is teaming with national dailies both English and Bengali with news, views, articles, features and technological innovation. It has been a significant stride as along with the remarkable growth of print and electronic media, the number of readership is also on the rise.” He said it is a pleasant sight to see newspaper vendors selling newspapers on the streets of this town and around the bus stands and stations.

With minimum 12 pages and weekly supplements spread over with national, international events, regional developments, culture, games and sports, entertainment and editorial is giving journalism an upswing trend in this valley, another journalist present at the workshop said.

Mediapersons attending the workshop also said the future of journalism in this valley is bright notwithstanding all the odds and constraints.

What is significant is that from this remote and landlocked region, six Bengali dailies – Yugashankha, Samyik Prasanga, Janakantha, Nababarta Prasanga, Silchar Times and Prantajyoti – and two English dailies – The Sentinel and The Eastern Chronicle – are hitting the stands everyday, they said.

The journalists of this valley seem to have accepted the challenge of their profession and keeping alive the glorious tradition of free, fair and fearless journalism with all grit and determination, observers said and added that reporters in the far-flung rural areas despite all adversities have been acquitting themselves with credibility, keeping pace with the deadlines of the print or electronic media.

The speakers attending the workshop included Dainik Prantajyoti editor Paresh Dutta, AIR news editor Hitabrata Bhattacharjee, Mizoram Post editor Nilotpal Choudhury, Dainik Prantajyoti chief reporter Ashim Dutta, Information and Public Relations regional director Haran Dey, Silchar Times editor Sanat Kumar Koiri and Achinta Sarma, a distinguished journalist of Guwahati. The workshop was followed by a health check-up camp. THE SENTINEL