Print media has wider influence than TV: Dasmunsi

Jalandhar, Oct 8: Underlining the importance and role of print media in the country, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today said it had more influence and responsibility as compared to the electronic media.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of Dainik Bhaskar's Jalandhar and Amritsar editions here, Mr Dasmunsi said that while it was true that the electronic media had registered an impressive growth but it should also be noted that the print media had been shouldering greater responsibility and role in strengthening of our democracy.

The Minister also felt that TV news are ''generally shortlived and lose importance by the next morning while newspaper reports' influence was long lasting.'' Praising Indian newspapers and journalists for qualitative and accurate reporting as compared to their counterparts in other parts of the world, Mr Dasmunsi said that Indian newspapers and journalists did enjoy more goodwill and reputation in the world.

He also praised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his pro reform economic policies and said that he had succeeded in projecting India as a world power.

''As a minister, I felt proud of the fact that under Dr Manmohan Singh's leadership, India had succeeded in earning applause and recognition from the otherwise conservative European Parliament which had endorsed India as the most important economic destination alongwith China,'' he said.

Mr Dasmunsi said that certainly there might be shortcomings and limitations in the government's performance and he would not mind if media pointed these out objectively.

Union Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken also lauded media's role and counselled mediapersons to maintain their impartiality in coverage.

Speaking at the function, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal expressed his happiness over the launching of the paper and hoped it would play a role in highlighting the needs and problems of Punjab and help in finding out solutions to these.

''Both agriculture and industry of Punjab are today sick and all should concentrate on finding out immediate solution to the problems and miseries of farmers of this state,'' he said.

State Finance Minister Surinder Singla described media as a pathfinder for the society but he urged it to maintain impartiality and accuracy while reporting.

Local Bodies Minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, Zee TV Chairman Subhash Chandra and Bhaskar Group Chairman Ramesh Chandra Agrawal also spoke on the occasion.

UNI