Press Club Ferozepur organizes Seminar – on “Journalism – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”

Ferozepur, March 20, 2017 : The Ferozepur Press Club observed a Seminar – “Journalism – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” – dedicated to martyrs – Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on Monday presided over by Dr.Harjinder Singh Walia, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Dr.C.P,Kamboj Assistant Professor, Punjabi Computer Help Centre, Punjabi University, Patiala.

As many as 32 journalists of Ferozepur district, who have contributed their services in journalism for 20 years were honoured by the Chief Guest of the function on behalf of the Press Club, Ferozepur.  More than 100 journalist from the districts participated in the Seminar working with various medial houses, TV Channels, Web Portals and Online News Portals.

The other dignitaries present were – Kamal Sharma, former BJP Punjab President and Member, National Executive Committee BJP, D.P.Chandan, Chairman, Planning Board, Rajveer Singh, SP(H), Hardeep Singh Sandhu, SDM, and Amrik Singh, DPRO.

Dr.Harjinder Singh Walia in his address said, the success comes to those only who have aim in their life. The journalism of Punjab is attached with the movement from the very beginning.  It started as a Mission, became Profession and later on as Production House.

Dr.Walia quoted various incidents from his experience.  He challenged to name any media house speaking on truth.  He did not hesitate to share that National channels have turned to be doing Anchor Journalism – either in favour or against.

He showed his concern about the balanced coverage on the news channels and newspapers ignoring the common man.

Raising  a question, Dr.Walia said, Is it the journalism what we are doing or paid news?  Where the common man should go to get a space in the newspaper? He said that the labour class has to die to come in the news and the journalism of today is confined to certain particular class. 

Giving the basic tips of journalism, Dr.Walia said, the reporter must keep in mind the basic viewpoints to be successful in his profession – General Knowledge, Technology and Language followed by update with the latest developments going on around the world.

Everyone has ambitions in his life to have money, fame and power which are related to each other but before pointing out, we should introspect ourselves as to where we are standing, he said.

 Quoting about the success of US, Dr.Walia said, around 5 per cent fix up their aim in life in the childhood whereas in our survey only 1.5 per cent have only aim, while 13 per cent have thought about this and 85 per cent are not sure as to what to do. 

Talking about the state of affairs of Punjab, he said with authority, only the teachers and parents can save the Punjab by giving dreams to the children.  There is no need of special environment to do something but only the ‘intention’ is needed and for complete success passion plays a very important role for doing the true journalism.

Lastly, Dr.Walia said,  There is a need to pay attention towards the economic conditions  of the journalists by stopping their exploiation by the media houses. Besides writing about others, he should also say something about himself.  He also advised them to do jounralism of people instead of yellow journalism. 

There was a pin-drop silence during his more than one hour address to the media persons.

On this occasion, Dr.Rameshwar Singh, a retired educationist said, newspapers should not have any link with the political parties so that a transparent and straightforward reporting is available to the readers.

Dr.Satinder Singh, a National Awardee in his address said, the journalists should have inspiration from Shaheed Bhagat Singh and do their reporting based on ABC – Accuracy, Balance and Creditability.

Dr.C.P.Kamboj, Asstt. Professor addressing the media persons of the districts said, Computer is not the substitute to the human being but it definitely helps in doing the things fast in the tech era.

He appreciated the notification of the government for bringing uniformity by using the Unicode fonts by the media house especially when 500 fonts are available for use which will further help in speed up of the news work.

Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, President, Press Club, Ferozepur welcoming the Chief Guests thanked the media fraternity from all over the district for joining the Seminar.  He said, besides journalism, Press Club Ferozepur is also working in the social fields also. We will try to involve all the clubs at one platform when the next Workshop on Journalism is organized. Shortly at tour of the members will be arranged, to be sponsored by him, he added.

Counting the achievements of the Club in the past, Sandhu said, the major achievement is that club has arranged Rs.10 lac insurance cover note for all the members of the club from its own sources.  

Gurdarshan Singh Arifke Chairman of the Club highlighted on the achievements of Dr.Harinder Singh Walia Chief Guest before his presentation to the media persons with his key note speech.

Gurnam Singh Gama – renowned satirist performed the anchoring of the programme nicely.

Earlier Walia paid floral tributes at the National Matyr Memorial at Hussainiwala before joining the Seminar.