‘Media should focus on peoplecentric issues’
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Times are changing. WhatsApp and Facebook are taking over. It’s not clear what newer generations will do. Newspapers will have to work to stay a step ahead. CAPTAIN AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab chief minister
CHANDIGARH: Top leaders of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday underlined the important role media can play in shaping opinion in the current challenging times by focusing on people-centric issues instead of personality cults.
Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur and former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal were speaking at a function held by Hindustan Times to celebrate completion of 18 years in the region.
HT was launched from Chandigarh April 18, 2000, to cater to Punjab, Haryana, HP, J&K, and Chandigarh.
The common thread running through most speeches at the event, attended by a galaxy of leaders and opinion makers from diverse fields, was the role of media and the challenges it faces. Badnore, also the Chandigarh administrator, said newspapers should take up issues that are apolitical in nature and can make a difference, citing stubble burning as one such topic. “It is an environment issue which affects a lot of people. It is said because of stubble burning cancer is increasing,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, Capt Amarinder, who is a military historian himself, dwelt on the challenges faced by newspapers from social media. “Times are changing. WhatsApp and Facebook are taking over. People like me will continue to read newspapers, but it’s not clear what newer generations will do. Newspapers will have to work to stay a step ahead. I am sure you are putting your heads together on this,” he said.
Khattar said political rivals keep indulging in blame game, but newspapers should rise above developing personality cults. “Governments keep changing. Instead of comparing personalities, the media should highlight comparisons between the systems followed by different governments and their people-centric initiatives. This will inspire and encourage governments to learn from good practices of others,” said the Haryana chief minister before listing a slew of reforms initiated by his government.
Badal, a five-time former CM, said newspapers needed to focus on agriculture, peace and communal harmony.
“About 65% of people depend on agriculture, but the sector does not get enough attention. Also, the country and the state cannot be successful unless there is peace and communal harmony,” he said. He termed the recent incidents of rape as “shameful” and demanded that rapists should be hanged.
Earlier, HT editor-in-chief Sukumar Ranganathan while welcoming the guests said HT was privileged to be the chronicler of the journey of many of the states in the region. “As we stand here, we stand at a very critical juncture for journalism itself. You don’t just have fake news. You have instant fake news. In this, a clear, credible, sane, trustworthy voice is what people look forward to. Our goal at Hindustan Times is to provide across platforms an unbiased, clear-minded journalism,” he said. HT executive editor Ramesh Vinayak delivered the vote of thanks.