Mangalore : The Dakshina Kannada district Working Journalists Association,  Mangalore Press Club and Patrika Bhavana Trust jointly organized Press Day on July 1, Tuesday at Patrika Bhavana Mangalore.

Sandhya S Pai, Managing Editor of Taranga Weekly inaugurated the Press Day celebrations. Speaking after inauguration she said, “Media can be both constructive and destructive. Negligence of a journalist can harm people’s lives.

One should provide justice to their write-ups by maintaining the credibility.”

Opining that there was a need for introspection at this juncture, Sandhya S Pai said that journalistic write-ups should benefit the readers.

“Issues of concern such as environment degradation should be focused upon. If the media is to highlight serious issues, the whole picture of India could be changed. Press should inspire the lives of people,” she added.

Shivasubramanya K., group editor, Hosa Diganta, Bangalore said in his talk on ‘Journalism and Democratic Beliefs, “the media should not try to impose their beliefs on readers. Neither should we try to justify our beliefs. When we do that conflicts arise,”

“Over the years ideals of Journalism has undergone tremendous change. Though we talk about Freedom of Press I doubt whether it really does exist in present days as most of the news contents require the approval of management board. Freedom of Management exists now not Freedom of Press,”he added.

“The senior journalists or editors should respect young and budding journalists and their opinion. They should also be open for suggestions of improvements from the young journalists and always motivate them to come up story ideas and also write special stories.” Shivasubramanya K advised.

“We should not be biased as far as covering political news is concerned. It is always better to maintain a safe distance. If the distance is compromised then it is our defeat. A journalist may consider it to be a matter of pride if some politician keeps hand on his shoulder or might also click two or three photographs for others to see. But when doing that he forgets that we have compromised that distance,”Shivasubramanya cautioned.

“Journalists should always present dual opinions without any fear and think beyond politics.”he added.

“A journalist should always uphold humanity and be neutral. Efforts should always be made to provide justice to people. He/she should always think as to how his organization can play a significant role in providing justice,” Shivasubramanya said.

“It is good to know that journalists are providing support to the protestors who are opposed of Netravati diversion. If the same type of support was provided to the River Cauvery rights activists then Karnataka would not be in dire straits. As the protests went unheard we see that as many as 2,500 lakes in Kolar has dried up, in Tumkur many lakes have disappeared,” he lamented.

“Women journalists in Dakshina Kannada should come up in more number,” he pointed out.

“Young journalists should always make a effort to know the financial system of their District, State and country. If not the entire law system one should always try to possess important legal knowledge,” he added.

“More importantly journalists should have common sense and should not go to the press meets or programmes without preparation.” Shivasubramanya said.

As part of Press Day celebrations ‘Netravathi Varna Jagruthi,’ an exhibition held in Press club, reflected on the possible after-effects of Yetthinahole project.

The exhibition intended to create awareness on the disastrous effects of the diversion of River Netravati.

The water colour paintings depicted the sceneries of River Nethravathi and its tributaries.

The paintings also captured the emotions of people connected with the lifeline and their anguish, though artists’ lines.
The expo also highlights the significance of Western Ghats and the nine tributaries of the river.

The art pieces convey the nine negative impacts of Nethravathi river diversion project.

Artists from Karavali Chitrakala Chavadi – Santhosh Andrade, Bhavani Shanker, Sapna Noronha, Ganesh Somayaji, Thyagaraj, Sharat Holla, Shabir Ali, Permude Mohan Kumar, Wilson D’Souza and Jivan Saliyan drew and exhibited their paintings on the spot, lead by artist and Sahyadri Samrakshana Sanchaya President Dinesh Holla.

The artworks are open to public at the third floor of Mangalore Press Club, Lady Hill, till July 7 between 10 am to 5.30 pm.

Ramakrishna R, President of Mangalore Press Club, Kiran Sirsikar, General Secretary, P.B.Harish Rai, President of DK District Working Journalists Association. Ravindra Shetty, Srinivas Indaje, General Secretary and others were present.