Kalam to inaugurate National Press Day function

New Delhi, Nov 10: President A P J Abdul Kalam will flag off the National Press Day celebrations to be marked by a two-day international symposia from November 16 at Vigyan Bhavan here.

The Day marks the establishment of the Press Council of India 40 years ago on November 16, 1966 to encourage the press to practice self-regulation and to protect its freedom .

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi and Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit will be Guests of Honour at the function, which would have representatives from more than 15 countries to discuss ''Journalism, Ethics and Society in the Age of Globalisation'' with special emphasis on the ''Role of Self Regulatory Bodies in the Media'' and ''Ethics in Media.'' Apart from the celebrations being organised under the aegis of the Press Council of India in Delhi, the states will hold separate events to mark the occasion, an official press note said today.

On the eve of the National Press Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate at AIFACS on November 15, the Press Council's exhibition organised to mark the contribution of photo journalism as a chronicle of tomorrow's history of society and mankind.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee will be the Guest of Honour for the function and will release the compendium on ''Self-Regulatory Mechanisms for the Media''. The exhibition will be open to the general public from 1300 hrs 1900 hrs to from November 16-18.

UNI