ITANAGAR : Information and Public Relations (IPR) Minister Nyato Dukam on Wednesday called upon electronic and digital media professionals to uphold ethical journalism with sincerity, discipline and responsibility while embracing technological advancements.
Addressing the 14th Foundation Day celebration of the Arunachal Electronic and Digital Media Association (AEDMA) and the fourth AEDMA Conclave on the theme, “Empowering Change through Information,” at the State Banquet Hall here, Dukam stressed the importance of fact-checking and responsible reporting to preserve public trust and strengthen democratic values.
He said the media plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability by highlighting shortcomings in governance and drawing attention to instances where government schemes fail to reach their intended beneficiaries.
Emphasising constructive engagement between the government and the media, the minister urged journalists to provide meaningful feedback and point out deficiencies to improve governance and the implementation of public welfare programmes.
Expressing concern over the rise of unregulated mobile-based journalism, Dukam said professional journalism was increasingly being undermined by individuals lacking journalistic training and ethics. He urged the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ), the Arunachal Press Club (APC) and AEDMA to work together to streamline the profession and identify genuine journalists and media organisations.
Speaking on the occasion, Arunachal Press Club (APC) President Amar Sangno urged journalists to prioritise quality reporting and uphold professional standards by avoiding sensationalism and exaggerated reporting.
“Every journalist must adhere to media ethics and should not resort to distorted information,” Sangno said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Tumme Amo emphasised the need for verifying facts before placing information in the public domain and advised media professionals not to be influenced or misled by vested interests. Appreciating the role of journalists in society, he said every report should be authentic, accurate and free from bias.
Arunachal Frontier Tribal Front (ATFT) Chairman Patey Tayum also underscored the responsibility of journalists, saying information disseminated to readers and viewers must remain factual, impartial and credible.
Earlier, AEDMA President JT Tagam appealed for the establishment of a dedicated mass media institute, particularly for training video journalists. Responding to the proposal, Dukam assured that a meeting would be convened to discuss the matter in detail.
The programme also witnessed the release of the AEDMA Journal and featured three panel discussions on “Empowering Arunachal Through Information: Bridging Knowledge, Opportunity and Development,” “Digital Media and Citizen Empowerment: Who Shapes the Narrative in the Information Age?” and “Media Freedom and Responsibility: Reporting Without Fear or Favour.”