Deshmukh exhorts media to project development news

Mumbai, Aug 22 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said the media should strike a balance between constructive criticism and placing facts about progress of development schemes launched by the government.

Addressing a gathering after presenting the Excellence in Development Journalism awards for the year 2003-04, instituted by the State Government, Mr Deshmukh said unfortunately negative reports are lapped up by the readers and the viewers of news channels.

''But, the media should strike a balance,''he felt.

Mr Deshmukh said his government would appreciate co-operation of the media to monitor the implementation of the government schemes adding that well researched reports would also be considered for such awards. ''The aim of this award is not just to felicitate journalists who have written good about the government schemes,''he said.

Mr Deshmukh urged the media to participate in the development process of the state and said district newspapers were in the forefront of providing information to their readers about government schemes, their implementation and failures. He assured that the government would look into their problems on priority basis.

A total of 27 awards were presented to journalists from all over Maharashtra. Among the awardees were UNI Senior Correspondent M P Joshi and Mr Prakash Sawant of Marathi newspaper Navshakti from Mumbai, Bal Hungund (Hitwad, Nagpur), Jagdish Pingale (lokmat, Beed), and Prahlad Sawant (Sakal, Pune).

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil noted that despite the growth of the electronic media, the print medium has maintained its supremacy, which is evident in the growing readership.

UNI