Dimapur, March 12 (MExN): The Nagaland Press Association (NPA) has taken serious note of “rising intimidation and threats” made to media houses in Nagaland, and resolved to be a “responsible and accountable medium” to uphold the freedom of speech and expression.
It has affirmed to be resolute against forces that “threaten to reduce the democratic space of media houses, and will not be pressured into publishing press statements/articles/news.”
These were some among seven points resolved at a general meeting of the NPA held on March 11 at Hotel Saramati here in order to uphold “democratic values and principles” as well as to enhance the “well-being of all persons involved in the fourth estate” in Nagaland.
The NPA advised the Government of Nagaland to “fully implement and operationalize the Nagaland Journalist Welfare Scheme effective beginning the 2017-2018 Financial Year,” stated the resolution, signed by NPA General Secretary, Along Longkumer. The NPA reiterated that the Government of Nagaland (GoN) should demonstrate its “political will” towards this end by allocating the financial requirements during the upcoming Budget Session.
In continuation of its protest against the GoN-proposed Accreditation Policy in 2016, the NPA urged the GoN to initiate a “consultation process with the media fraternity so that an acceptable, applicable and practical Accreditation policy for Nagaland can be formulated without further delay.”
The NPA further proposed a consultation meeting with all of Nagaland’s media fraternity as soon as possible in order to “strengthen and build better understanding.” During the general meeting, the NPA’s interim executives were entrusted with the responsibility of doing the ground work to ensure that the consultation meeting is inclusive and represented by all sections of the media fraternity.
Meanwhile, recognizing that the NPA is currently being managed by interim executives, the general meeting decided to hold elections to the NPA at the earliest possible time.
It was also resolved that the NPA would request media houses/newspapers to “encourage their staff (working journalists and non-journalists, including the printing staff) to actively participate in strengthening the NPA.”
In order to keep the media fraternity informed and updated with new learning, the NPA will also organize a refresher workshop (orientation program) for journalists in Nagaland in 2017.
