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In the national media conference, media practitioners take pledge to uphold positive values in digital communications

-Press release of 4th All India Media Conference, dated 8 October, 2019

Udaipur, Oct. 8: More than 300 media practitioners, researchers, scholars and educationists from different states of India and from four foreign countries took a pledge to empower the underprivileged sections of society by ending the digital divide and create new opportunities to highlight the issues of common people, rural areas, landless labourers, malnourished children and farmers affected by climate change.

These issues came up for deliberations during a three-day-long international event, the 4th All India Media Conference-2019, organized here by Jaipur-based media advocacy organization, Lok Samvad Sansthan, in collaboration with Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, and supported by UNICEF-Rajasthan from September 27 to 29. The three days witnessed lively interaction, hectic parleys and spirited panel discussions by well-known experts in the field of media.

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During the three days, the subjects on which discussions were held included digital trends, technologies and Innovations, digital media tools for good governance, digital media industry trends, digital media literacy. digital tools and connectivity, journalism in the age of social media, the age of mobile journalism, combating fake news, integration of print and digital journalism, and social Media and political mobilization.

Some of the prominent persons who addressed the conference were noted journalist and founder-editor of PARI, Mr. P. Sainath, Speaker of Rajasthan Assembly, Dr. C.P. Joshi, UNICEF-Rajasthan chief Ms. Isabelle Bardem, former Director-General of Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Mr. K.G. Suresh and formr Chief Information Commissioner of Bangladesh, Mr. Mohammed Golam Rahman.

In addition to different states of India, the delegates came from Nepal, Bangladesh, Hungary and Romania, making the conference an international event, which is very rare in the fields of media practice, media education and public relations.

In his keynote address, Mr. P. Sainath said the digital monpoly was the biggest monpoly in the world which was posing a threat to the social order, in which the issues of ordinary people should find sufficient space. He pointed out that the mainstream newspapers were giving only 0.67% space on their front page to the issues confronting the rural communities. He called for stopping romanticization of Internet, while pointing out that the algorithm of people being sold by Internent giants was being used for framing policies.

Dr. C.P. Joshi said though the present mobile technology had decentralized information and its spread, its regulation had proved to be an arduous task. He said the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi were more relevant in the current digital age. Mr. Golam Rahman expressed concern over the fake news being spread through the platforms of digital media and called for devising new strategies to meet the challenge.

The main theme of the conference was “Digital communication and empowerment: Emerging opportunities and key challenges”. The related subjects were discussed in the parallel technical session at G.D. Goenka International School, situated on the outskirts of Udaipur, while other proceedings were held at the Guest House of Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur.

Ms. Isabelle Bardem said the media’s growing significance in recent times as a platform for expression of voices had come as opportunities which may be looked upon as a powerful tool to reach voices at the right places. With the advent of technology and digital spaces, real time discussions have become a reality and one which generates immediate impact.

She affirmed that 42% of the world’s population that is below 25 years and 55% in Rajasthan deserved to occupy media spaces too. UNICEF has been advocating and mobilizing for these spaces so that the issues concerning children and young people also merit attention and policy makers and development implementers can have real time information of their issues instantly just as the other development news come up.

Two life time achievement awards were announced at the conference for the noted journalist and former Editor of Rajasthan Patrika, Mr. Vijay Bhandari, and Hyderabad-based public relations practitioner, Mr. C.V. Narasimha Reddy. The selection criteria were their great contributions in the field of media and public relations with their age of more than 85 years. They will be honoured at a special function in Jaipur, where the Chief Minister Mr. Ashok Gehlot is likely to be present.

The awards of special recognition were also given to three distinguished academicians and three journalists for their significant work. The conference concluded with a call to the media professionals and academicians to promote positive values and uphold the principles of truth, honesty and equity in their respective fields.

For more information, please contact:

Kalyan Singh Kothari

Conference Chairman, 4th AIMC-2019

Mobile: 9414047744