Transform yourselves into media of a billion people:Kalam to Press

New Delhi, Nov 16: President APJ Abdul Kalam today called upon the national press to transform itself into the media of a billion people by becoming partner in the country's economic development.

The President also exhorted journalists and media organisations to maintian high standard of research, quality, decency, especially while representing and reporting about women, and objectivity in their news reporting.

He was speaking after inaugurating an international seminar on' Journalism Ethics and Society in the Age of Globalisation' organised by the Press Council of India(PCI) as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.

Dr Kalam said media should evolve a code of conduct among themselves for ensuring that all reporting is analyzed, evaluated, and researched prior to publication.

He also called for scanning and digitizing all old issues of the print media since its establishment and storing them in a digital library to preserve the national heritage and make it available for research.

The President wanted journalists to work for the development of the country in mission mode.

He said there were two kinds of politics--developmental and political, and the media had so far been giving attention to political politics, but it was high time now that it shifted its focus to developmental politics to contribute its share in the task of making India a developed country by 2020.

In this context he made special mention of programmes like Providing Urban Facilities in Rural Areas(PURA), the recently sanctioned 'Bharat Nirman' and the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme covering 200 districts in which media can help for their successful implementation.

He recommended that journalists should interact with grassroot social reformers and bring out their core competence, dedication and experience in serving rural communities.

Dr Kalam spelt out six missions for the media--working for a developed India before 2020; becoming a development partner; celebrating every aspect of the success of the people, elimination of corruption before 2015, and promoting an enlightened society, which means education with value system, and transforming religion into a spiritual force.

Speaking on the occasion Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said the print media has played a great role in the strengthening of the democracy in the country.

Sometimes, their harsh editorial comments are heart-breaking, but after a while one realises that their watch is essential for the good of the country, he said.

Reports of the National Press Day being celebrated poured in from across the country. In Goa, the day was marked by an official function followed by a workshop on ''ethics of journalism'' in the capital. Three senior retired journalists were felicitated in the function organised by the State Department of Information and Publicity in association with the Goa Union of Journalists and the Goa Editors Guild.

Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane sought simplification of the Right to Information Act enacted by the Centre besides slashing the time frame for compliance by the designated information officers to 15 days as against 30 days now in the provision for parting with the information to the seaker.

In Manipur, the day was observed in the Press Club. The programme being organised by the state government's IPR department in association with All Manipur Working Journalists' Union and the Editors' Forum.

Meanwhile, Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy, speaking at the Press Day celebration in the Union Territory, announced that the administration would soon institute an award for best journalists.

Mr Rangasamy said press played a vital role to guide the government in suggesting what should be done to the people. He said as in Tamil Nadu, all welfare schemes for the scribes would be implimented here too.

UNI