Societal role of newspapers and new media technologies kicked off Opening Ceremony

Posted by Shakia Harris on December 1, 2009 at 11:22 AM

The new trend of newspapers using new media technologies kicked off the opening ceremony today.

T Venkattram Reddy, president of the Indian Newspaper Society, discussed the economic downturn the newspaper industry is facing.

He said that by introducing new media, the internet has revolutionized newspaper publishing; however, the internet will not save newspapers.

The media's role in society was also discussed. The president of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, said that the media can play a crucial role in prompting societal behavior patterns.

"Journalists have a stake in building a better and safer world," Patil said.

Even though the news is now available through various mediums including the internet and other electronic media, Patil said that people are still relying on print media for clarity: "People continue to rely on newspapers to understand what is happening and why it is happening."

Najam Sethi, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Times, Pakistan, was presented with the Golden Pen of Freedom Award for his condemnation of autocracy and religious fundamentalism as well as his contributions to journalism.

"We all know the dangers facing news media in Pakistan," said Xavier Vidal-Folch, president of the World Editor's Forum. Folch said that durable democracy does not come easily in conditions where journalist are harassed, attacked, and threatened by military extremist.

He further praised Sethi on his ability to get all sides of the story despite constant threats and the constant danger he faces. "Najam Sethi has managed to anger both the extremist and the government authorities merely by doing his job," Vidal-Folch said.

Conference participants also took a moment to recognize the more than 30 journalist that were killed last week in the Phillipines. Reddy said it was an "act of savagery that has written one of the blackest pages in history."