Advisor Imkong L Imchen with the executive council and senior members of Kohima Press Club during the meeting held in Kohima on August 19. (DIPR Photo)
• KPC appeals for journalists' pension scheme;
• Raises concern on unverified social media news;
• Urges to route press conferences via DIPR
Kohima, August 19 (MExN): Advisor for Information and Public Relations Nagaland, Imkong L Imchen, held a meeting with the executive council and senior members of the Kohima Press Club (KPC) at his office chamber at the Secretariat, Kohima on August 19.
During the meeting, Imchen sought the views of the KPC representatives on improving participation and facilities for the media fraternity, particularly during the State Assembly proceedings and other official events, an official release said.
The KPC highlighted several proposals for the functioning and welfare of the broader media community in the state, it said.
In a letter to the Advisor, the KPC appealed for the implementation of the Nagaland Working Journalists' Pension Scheme. The KPC stated that given the demanding nature of the profession, pension scheme for journalists in Nagaland would provide financial security to journalists post-retirement and be a significant step towards acknowledging their vital contributions to society.
The Press Club also mentioned that most states in India have already instituted Pension Schemes for Journalists, including the neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram etc., where journalists are already enjoying the benefits of the scheme.
Commissioner & Secretary IPR, Orenthung Lotha and IPR Director Dzüvinuo Theünuo, who were present at the meeting, assured that a proposal for the pension scheme was already with the state government.
KPC also proposed that the operational subsidies provided to Accredited Journalists need to have provisions for an increment every three years or so, maintaining that the enhancements would provide substantial support and facilitate improved journalistic output.
Referring to the concern recently raised by the Mokokchung Press Club over the increasing public confusion between professional journalism and unregulated media content, the KPC stated that it holds similar concerns.
“We are deeply disturbed at the way the rise of social media contents is creating confusion among the public while consuming news.
Unverified news poses a threat to traditional and trustworthy news and eventually also affects the very profession of journalists who go the extra mile in gathering news,” the KPC stated.
Further, the KPC called upon the department to initiate steps and ensure that State Government official press conferences be routed through “proper channel,” via the DIPR, who can subsequently inform the Press Clubs whose members represent the established state, regional and national media houses.
“This will go a long way in streamlining the immediate aforementioned concern as well, while ensuring decorum and protocol,” KPC added.
Advisor Imchen gave his assurance that the concerns raised by the KPC would be looked into and addressed at the earliest.
