National Media Conclave organized by MRIU draws a galaxy of Media Professionals to debate and discuss on media-centric issues

The National Media Conclave organised by Faculty of Media Studies and Humanities (FMeH), Manav Rachna International University (MRIU), was a confluence of great minds as a galaxy of media professionals from various platforms gathered together to brainstorm over media-centric issues. Themed on ‘Media and Society: Challenges and Prospects’, the Conclave drew the who’s who of the media world to grace this insightful occasion. Dr Chandan Mitra, Former Rajya Sabha member and Editor of the Pioneer newspaper was the Chief Guest of the Conclave while Dr A. Surya Prakash, Chairman Prasar Bharati, was the Guest of Honour. Also present at the Conclave were Dr Amit Bhalla, Vice President, MREI; Dr M.M. Katuria, Trustee, M.R. Trust; Dr N.C. Wadhwa, VC, MRIU; Dr Sanjay Srivastava, MD, MREI and VC, MRU; along with Senior Media Professionals, Dignitaries from the Corporate world and Media Students. The Conclave brought to the limelight the ‘news creators’ who were as vocal as they were intellectually stimulating, leaving the audience spellbound by the sheer depth and vision of their ideas and thoughts!

Addressing the august gathering, Chief Guest, Dr Chandan Mitra, Former Rajya Sabha member and Editor of the Pioneer newspaper said, “The challenge before the media is to serve national goals and society. Media has had to face the incursion of technology which has progressed phenomenally across the years. However, traditional forms of media have greater credibility since the primary job of the Editor has always been to filter the news, give it a proper orientation and analysis and ensure that it does not become inflammatory. In this day and age, technology has to be used with maturity and not with a view to sensationalizing news. The Media has to be seen in a transformative role and inculcate the spirit of enquiry so that our youth receive the right kind of education. Today, the Media acts as a catalyst and plays a major role in transforming information into knowledge. Print is the most credible among the different forms of media and this credibility will continue right into the future. ”

Speaking on the occasion in his keynote address, the Guest of Honour Dr A. Surya Prakash, Chairman Prasar Bharati, said, “We live in an age where there is free flow of information and a free environment for dissemination of news. In recent times, while people have acquired the economic strength to buy newspapers and there are over 160 million households with TV sets, a new segment of new age users has emerged who consume news through their smartphones. In such a scenario, there is an urgent need to exercise self regulation and not give in to whimsicality, anger and hatred in the use of social media. It is a known fact that the mobile phone has become a critical instrument as a carrier of news. As for the future, digital literacy which can arm users with new skill sets, can fast track India’s growth story