Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MH)
Mangaluru, Jul 1: Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader inaugurated the Press Day celebrations organized by the Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists Union (DKWJU) and the Mangaluru Press Club on Monday, July 1.
U T Khader, DKWJU president Srinivas Nayak Indaje, retired professor and columnist Bhuvaneshwari Hegde, senior assistant director Khader Shah, Mangaluru Press Club president P B Harish Rai, Patrika Bhavana Trust president Ramakrishna R, and Taranath Kamath were among the dignitaries present at the event.
The programme commenced with the lighting of the lamp. Taranath Kamath, a senior newspaper distributor who has been working for over sixty years, was honoured on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, U T Khader said, “Politicians and journalists are mutually dependent. Politicians need journalists to reach the masses, while journalists rely on politicians for news content. I am proud to say that the first newspaper in Karnataka, ‘Mangaluru Samachara’, originated here in Mangaluru. Journalists play a crucial role in national development, especially in the digital age where everyone can be a journalist. My advice to students is to read newspapers regularly to enhance their knowledge, stay informed about current affairs, and improve their language skills. As a child, I read the newspaper every morning, and I believe that youth and students should cultivate this habit daily. It is also important to read between the lines and critically analyse news content, as newspapers publish a wide array of information that we must interpret responsibly. The kindness, love, and trust we see in society today owe much to the contributions of journalists. It is crucial to be mindful of what we write today, as it will shape the perspectives of future generations. Thanks to journalists, Dakshina Kannada has a good reputation in Karnataka. Politicians and journalists should work together for the betterment of society.”
Retired lecturer and columnist Bhuvaneshwari Hegde further addressed the gathering, saying, “Compared to other professions, journalism faces more pressure; I observed this when I was in Bengaluru. Journalists should have a sense of humour. Using humour in headlines and captions can help alleviate some of the pressure. Journalists sometimes create sensational headlines, making situations appear more serious than they actually are, and often people only read the headlines and photo captions. For the development of any region, transport is important. I have written many columns on potholes in this district with a humorous tone. Journalists have a significant social responsibility, and it is important to fulfill it effectively.”
When asked about her inspiration and how she navigates potentially offending others with her humour, Bhuvaneshwari Hegde said, “I am inspired by the columnists of my time, from whom I have learned to address serious situations with a humorous tone. However, I am mindful that humour can sometimes upset people, so I assess what to write humorously and what to avoid. For example, making fun of disabled people is never acceptable.”