Pics: Nithin Pereira

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Jul 2: Media must continue to uphold truth and bring societal issues to the forefront despite the growing influence of social media, said Dr Shubha H S, director of the Manipal Institute of Communication.

Addressing the gathering at the Press Day celebrations organized by the Udupi District Working Journalists' Association, in association with the Udupi Press Club Committee and Udupi Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital, at the IMA Bhavan in Udupi on July 1, Dr Shubha H S, said it is the responsibility of journalists to highlight the problems faced by society and expose the shortcomings of the system. She observed that even amid the rapid growth of social media platforms, professional media organizations have a crucial role in presenting factual and credible information.

Dr Shubha H S also pointed out that women are often portrayed in the news mainly as victims, politicians or sportspersons. However, women are rarely consulted or quoted as policymakers or subject experts, she said, stressing the need for more inclusive and balanced representation in media coverage.

The programme was presided over by Subrahmanya G Kuriya, president of the Udupi District Working Journalists' Association. G C Lokesh, state general secretary of the Karnataka Working Journalists' Association, and B Manjunath, Assistant Director of the Udupi Department of Information and Public Relations, attended as chief guests and addressed the gathering.
On the occasion, veteran cartoonist James Vaz was honoured with the Press Day Award in recognition of his contribution to journalism.

Resource person S H Santhosh Kumar, administrative officer at Dr B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, delivered a special session on stress management and personality development for journalists.

Meritorious awards were presented to the children of journalists who excelled in this year's SSLC and PUC examinations. A bus pass card under the Karnataka government's Rural Journalists' Bus Pass Scheme was also distributed to beneficiary Yogeesh Kumbhashi.

The programme began with a welcome address and introductory remarks by Nazir Polya, general secretary of the association. Umesh Marpalli, secretary, introduced the resource person, while Ajith Aradi, district committee member, announced the list of meritorious award recipients.

The citation for James Vaz was read out by Michael Rodrigues, a member of the Udupi Press Club Committee. Uday Kumar Mundkur, vice-president of the district association, proposed the vote of thanks, and journalist Akshatha Girish Aithal compered the event.

Astro Mohan, state committee member of the Karnataka Working Journalists' Association; Arun Kumar Shiroor, National Committee Member; Ganesh Kaliyanpur, joint convener of the Udupi Press Club Committee; and Harish Kundar, treasurer of the district association; Journalists, Journalism students and others were present on the occasion.