Media and ethics
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 11 2011: A day-long media workshop on 'Ethics' was organised by All Manipuri Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) at Manipur Press Club today.

Organised under the sponsorship of Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Govt of Manipur, the inaugural function of the workshop was attended by former president of AMWJU Kangujam Madhumangol Singh as chief guest and present president of AMWJU Khogendra Khomdram as functional president.

Speaking at the occasion, Madhumangol observed that mediapersons in Manipur face lot of problems in carrying out their duties.

So, there is close relation between the ethics that mediapersons have to adhere to and the problems being faced from time to time.

In the first business session of the workshop, editor of Sanaleibak daily A Mobi Singh delivered a lecture on 'Press Council of India and Media Ethics.

A Mobi said that Media ethics is essential not only for ensuring dissemination of proper information to the public but also in protecting the integrity of the mediapersons and to remain in the profession for long.

It would also be of great help to the mediapersons in performing their duties with sincerity and dedication, if the proprietors of media firms under the media ethics.

In Manipur, it is the armed UGs, those who are supposed working for the welfare of the people, advertisement and proprietors who create difficulty for the mediapersons to adhere to their ethics, A Mobi added.

Consultant of AIR Imphal BB Sharma, who participated in the discussion of the first business session, contended that code of conduct of mediapersons should be regarded as some kind of laws and ethics is the spirit of the individuals concerned.

So, mediapersons should perform their duties and responsibilities keeping in mind the ethics and the code of conduct.

The trust of the reading public that whatever that appear in newspaper is truth should not be belied and no question should be allowed to raise on the integrity and honesty of mediapersons, he said.

Another former president of AMWJU, AK Sanaton, who also participated in the discussion, pointed out that there is no service protection or job security for media-persons in Manipur and the remuneration being given is not adequate.

The remunerator is not in commensurate with the income being earned by the proprietors and there is no increment in accordance to the rise in income.

In such a situation, adherence to media ethics by mediapersons becomes a serious issue.

Adherence to media ethics depends on the morality of the mediapersons concerned.

Media ethics should also be understood by the proprietors.

In the second business session, general secretary of AMWJU N Phillip presented a paper on 'Local advertisement and media ethics'.

Editor of Poknapham daily A Robindro Sharma, editor of Naharolgi Thoudang Khoirom Loyalakpa and news editor of ISTV Y Rupachandra participated in the discussion.

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