‘Press is an Interface between Parliament and People’: Lok Sabha Speaker

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Our Correspondent / New Delhi

Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs. Sumitra Mahajan on Friday said that that journalists being the custodians of public faith, has huge impact on society. She said that it was their duty to channelize information and news to different stakeholders, including the teeming masses across the country.

Delivering the 51st Convocation Address of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) here, Mrs. Mahajan urged media persons to realize that whatever they write has a deep impact on the lives of the people and, as such, they should present their stories in such a way that the maximum public good is ensured.

She said that people have high expectations from Parliament and the Press is an interface between Parliament and the people. She pointed out that there are serious debates and speeches on the floor of the House which need to be covered imaginatively and conveyed to the people. She, however, asked whether this duty has been properly fulfilled. She felt that all the organs of the State should be strong and it is the duty of the Fourth Estate, among its other responsibilities, to ensure that there is a right balance among them.

Mrs Mahajan called upon the future journalists to ensure that they provide authentic and unbiased coverage on issues of public concerns. She also felt that self-restraint is necessary while reporting issues because the Press is its own regulator. She lauded the role of the Press to protect social concerns and to ensure that Governments are on the right path while making the policies and programmes for the people.

On this occasion, Mrs. Mahajan also gave away awards to students of IIMC. She also inaugurated the ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee Marg’ in IIMC Campus and planted an Ashoka tree. She also launched Sanskrit Vartha Samachar web portal.