Akangjungla
The National Press Day – an annual event is observed annually ‘symbolic of a free and responsible press in India.’ The day commemorates the establishment of the Press Council of India (PCI) in 1956, which started ‘functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that not only did the press maintain the high standards expected from this powerful medium but also that it was not fettered by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors.’ Over the past two decades, the press community in Nagaland, mostly the print media, including English and vernacular dailies, have expanded in terms of its vision, outreach and impact. And with this growth, the Nagaland based Press Clubs have been religiously commemorating the National Press Day by organising significant events based on the theme recommended by the Press Council of India every year. Currently, there are three press clubs in Nagaland – Dimapur Press Club, Kohima Press Club and Mokokchung Press Club.
With the theme ‘Media in the Era of Artificial Intelligence Background Note,’ all the existing clubs brought together participation from diverse group of people. Without overshadowing the theme, the Mokokchung Press Club added the element of bringing a ‘symbiotic relationship between the press and civil society organisations inorder to reinforce the role of media role in informing and educating society while unwaveringly upholding the truth. Their celebration had a speaker from outside the media fraternity. Er T Imlisunep Ao, Principal of ITI Mokokchung as the thematic speaker laid focus on the ‘effective use of AI is a powerful tool for media. Harnessing AI's potential can greatly benefit Mokokchung.’ The Dimapur Press Club has invited a taxman to address the occasion. Sashiwapang, IRS, Additional Commissioner, CGST, Dimapur, bringing case in point of the social media and digital media platforms, made a remark that social media users disseminating news may not exhibit the same level of responsibility for fact-checking and analysis as traditional media outlets. Speaking from the perspective of a news consumer mostly through the social media medium, the IRS pointed out that media in the era of AI presents a double-edged sword for the media industry. While AI offers immense potential to enhance content, efficiency, and creativity, it also introduces new challenges related to misinformation, bias, and ethical considerations. Author, poet and senior journalist, Monalisa Changkija graced the programme hosted by Kohima Press Day where she put across a crucial point while stating AI is predicted to grow increasingly pervasive as technology develops, revolutionizing sectors including healthcare, banking and transportation. “But what about the media? Will we grow or perish with AI?” Making an assertive statement she reminder that the media is supposed to be leaders of thoughts, opinions and decision-making ~ not followers.
Taking into account the different opinion, knowledge and participation, it emphasis how crucial it is for the media to be contextual, evolving and emerging according to the changes taking place in many aspects. The challenge lies in how open, curious and prepared is the media community in Nagaland also to delve into the intricate interplay between the Fourth Estate and the progressing circumstances. The National Press Day 2023 with its theme - ‘Media in the Era of Artificial Intelligence’, has served as a great reminder that the essence of journalism lies in influencing the new technologies and challenges as a tool without compromising the core values it upholds.
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