Raghavendra Balkur
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur
Kundapur, Jul 21: "Print media plays a highly effective and pro-people role in creating social awareness in society. The warnings and awareness spread by newspapers have a profound impact. The keen interest shown by Kundapur journalists in delivering positive news is a model for everyone," said Kundapur taluk health officer Premanand.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Press Day celebrations organised by the Kundapur taluk working journalists' association at the Radhabai Hall in Bhandarkars College on Tuesday, July 21. The event was uniquely inaugurated by playing a gramophone.
Premanand lauded the media's recent coverage and concern regarding the series of pig deaths. Expressing concern over the declining number of newspaper distributors, which he noted could lead to a drop in overall readership, he stressed the urgent need to encourage distributors and provide them with life security.
Association president Nagaraja Rayappanamata presided over the programme.
As part of the Press Day celebrations, journalist Prashanth Pade, recipient of the KUWJ 2024 Mandibele Shamanna Memorial Award, was formally felicitated on the occasion.
Delivering a special lecture, senior journalist and Vijaya Karnataka Mangaluru division senior reporter Muhammad Arif said, "The hunger for reading newspapers should begin during student life. Reading newspapers provides a vast experience and is highly beneficial for facing competitive exams. Students play a crucial role in saving newspapers."
He further added, "The media landscape has undergone significant changes with the opening of numerous divisions. Newspapers, which played a pivotal role in the country's freedom struggle, offer news that is permanent. Once published, it remains relevant forever. Newspapers are the only medium that brings all subjects together, thus retaining their importance and credibility even today. While social media is highly attractive, it often spreads frivolous content in a rush, which disappears just as quickly due to a lack of substance. True accuracy and objectivity can only be found in newspapers. They not only impart global knowledge but also assist at crucial life stages, acting as a bridge for social change and awareness."
Kundapur city police station sub-inspector Nanja Naik, traffic police station sub-inspector Anoop Kumar, Bhandarkars College principal Shubhakarachari, Bhandarkars PU College principal Saroja M, and Udupi district working journalists' association president Subrahmanya Bhat (Suji Kurya) also spoke during the event.
District secretary T Lokesh Acharya Thekkatte, and executive committee members Raghavendra Pai, Chandrama Thallur, and Yogish Kumbhashi were present.
A silent prayer was observed to pay homage to the recently deceased journalist Nagesh Ganiga.
College students Anvitha and Ashwini led the prayer. Kundapur taluk working journalists' association treasurer Srikanth Hemmadi welcomed the gathering. General secretary Ganesh S Beejadi proposed the vote of thanks, and journalist Akshatha Girish compered the programme.