Advisor Imkong L Imchen assures to look into the press fraternity’s needs

DIMAPUR — Advisor for Information and Public Relations, Imkong L Imchen, held an interactive meeting with the Kohima Press Club (KPC) executive council and senior members on Tuesday in his office chamber at the Secretariat, Kohima.

The advisor sought the views of the KPC representatives on how to improve participation as well as facilities for the media fraternity, particularly during the State Assembly proceedings and other official events, the KPC stated in an update.

The KPC members highlighted several proposals that would improve the functioning and welfare of the broader media community in the state.

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In a letter to the advisor, the club appealed Imchen to take up with the concerned authorities for implementation of the much-needed Nagaland Working Journalists' Pension Scheme.

Maintaining that in view of the demanding nature of journalism as a profession, the KPC stated that implementation of a pension scheme for journalists in Nagaland would provide financial security to journalists in their post-retirement phase and would be a significant step towards acknowledging their vital contributions to the 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.

Towards this, the Commissioner & Secretary of IPR, Orenthung Lotha, and IPR Director Dzüvinuo Theünuo who were also present in the meeting, assured that a proposal was already put up with the state government.

The KPC also proposed that the operational subsidies provided to accredited journalists need to have provisions for an increment every three years or so, so 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 Kohima Press Club 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, which 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,” the club added.

Advisor Imchen gave his assurance that the concerns raised by the KPC would be looked into and addressed at the earliest.