Describing media the fourth pillar of democracy, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Sunday highlighted its responsibility of keeping society well-versed with authentic news feeds. He said newspapers and other modes of media have a greater role to play in creating positivity and nurturing rule of law. He said media has also social responsibility in addressing community and social issues.Addressing at a function organized by a newspaper publication house to award outstanding students here, the Chief Minister said that politician and media share close relations and both are complementary and supplementary to each other.Omar Abdullah said that present technology advancement has put greater challenge to the print media in its reaching out to people speedily and in a time bound manner. He said people are eager to know the happenings around the world and choose fastest means for the same. However, he added that the importance of newspapers is at its place. He said that modern technological interventions need to be adopted by print media to expand its outreach and strengthen the news flow system.The Chief Minister said that media organizations being owned by corporate houses influence the working of these organizations. He said that working of journalists should be free from all influences so that they could fairly and freely file their stories and commentaries regarding different issues and aspects. He said credibility, authenticity and fair reporting should be the benchmark of functioning of media for the larger interests of the society and the country.Congratulating the award winners, the Chief Minister mentioned the pressure students have to bear in the prevailing educational system for acquiring admission in reputed educational institutions in the disciplines they want to pursue their goals. He underlined the need of enhancing the accessibility of students to higher education as also to widen the scope of studying the subjects of their choice.
Omar Abdullah on the occasion also launched the website of the newspaper.
Present on the occasion were Deputy Chief Minster, Tara Chand, Minister for PHE, Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Planning, Ajay Sadhotra, Minister for Horticulture, Raman Bhalla, Minister of State for Cooperatives, Dr. Manohar Lal, Legislator, Devender Singh Rana, pisional Commissioner, Jammu, IG, Jammu and Editor, Amar Ujala, Udhay Kumar among others.Later, the Chief Minister congratulated the two girls gymnasts from Jammu who have been selected for Commonwealth Games and wished them success. The girls along with their coach met the Chief Minister. (GNS)