Media is poor man s voice: Shri Laxmikant Sharma

District level accreditation will be given to editors of small newspapers in districts

Bhopal:Wednesday, July 22, 2009:Updated 18:40IST Public Relations Minister Shri Laxmikant Sharma has said that media is the voice of the poor. Newspapers and magazines play important role in development. Addressing the regional convention of All India Small Newspapers Association here today, the Public Relations Minister said that the state government will extend all possible cooperation and protection to small and medium newspapers.

He announced that the editors of small and medium newspapers of districts will be accorded district level accreditation. Reiterating government's commitment for promoting rural journalism, he said that the rules for providing accreditation to tehsil level journalists have been simplified.
Now, the state government will accord accreditation to tehsil level journalists having qualification of high school. Commissioner Public Relations Shri Manoj Shrivastava was also present on the occasion.
Public Relations Minister Shri Sharma said that the state government has formulated public relations policy for making better atmosphere and resources to media. Madhya Pradesh is the first state which has allocated 50 percent of its budget for display advertisements to small and medium newspapers.
The amount of medical assistance to journalists has been increased from Rs 20 thousand to Rs 50 thousand. A proposal is also under consideration of the state government to provide Shradhha Nidhi to journalists, bringing them under insurance cover and revamping of Public Relations Department and decision on these proposals will be taken soon.
In Bhopal, two housing societies of journalists have been provided lands on reduced rates. The state government plans to provide lands to journalists' housing societies in all the districts. Instructions in this connection have been given to district collectors.
Addressing the function, Commissioner Public Relations Shri Manoj Shrivastava said that effective presence of small and medium newspapers in this age of media corporatisation a sign of democratic uplift.
It will be beneficial for society if weekly journalism develops into alternative journalism. Small and medium newspapers represent alternative stream of life and human values. Media organisations must give a serious thought to formulating a code of conduct with a view to increasing media's credibility and stemming yellow journalism.
Media's credibility in the society will increase if it exercises self-control. He said that in comparison to other states, the Madhya Pradesh Government is providing a large chunk of its budget for advertisements to small and medium newspapers.
Shri Pushpendra Pal Singh, Head of Department of Journalism, Makhanlal Chaturvedi Journalism University also addressed the convention. Apart from Shri KK Mishra, national president of All India Small Newspapers Association Shri Shiv Shankar Tripathi, regional convener Shri Avdhesh Bhargava and large number of journalists were present on the occasion.