AMRITSAR: Batting for the freedom of speech and transparency, Mr. Harish Khare, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune today said the journalism was passing through a crucial juncture where fearless reporting was the need of the hour. He said the profession of Journalism had always been challenging and if we trace its history we would find different testing times it passed through.
While addressing the students of Journalism and Mass Communication at Khalsa College here today, Mr. Khare shared his experiences and times during his long career as Journalists while working with the various national dailies. He said the new technology and social media driver journalism today is posing new phase but he hoped that the independence of media and its pursuit to be factual and closer to reality are some of the dreams that it would achieve.
From basics of the Journalism to its academic aspects to reporting in its daily routine were some of the issues that he spoke upon and said that the news is an instant history which form the basis of the historical writing in the coming times. He also stated that print journalism is driven by laws and regulations but the social media and TV is seldom has that limitations.
``There is little check on the social media as the information is pasted without a structured evaluation and editing and thus sometimes many things goes to the public which may not be healthy for the social order and might not be conducive to the parameters of reality’’, said he. He answered a number of queries by the students on Journalism as a career choice, declining credibility of the journalism, corruption, partisan reporting and commercialization of the media.
He said despite certain problems, Journalism is still a career choice for the bold people and only those must join this profession whose aim is not to make money but who want to serve the society and are ready to take the challenge of digging the hidden truths. Principal of Khalsa College Dr. Mehal Singh, Dean Academics Prof Sukhmeet Bedi, Prof. Navreen Bawa, HoD Journalism and Mass Commmunication Department Dr. Puneet Dhillon, Deputy Director PR, DS Rataul earlier welcomed Mr. Khare on arrival at the College campus.
Dr Mehal Singh said that it was an enriching and learning experience for the students who listened to the experienced Editor. He said the weekly column of Mr. Khare in The Tribune is much sought after piece that the people wait every week. He said the Journalists are the torch bearers of the democracy that is why the Media is called the fourth pillar.