India Tomorrow
New Delhi—India Tomorrow organized a seminar on `Role of Alternative Media in Shaping Tomorrow’s India” at Constitution Club here on Sunday.
Several top journalists and academics participated in the seminar. They include Press Club of India (PCI) President Umakant Lakheda, senior journalist Pradeep Mathur and Professor Salim Engineer of Malviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur.
On this occasion, India Tomorrow honoured several journalists for raising grassroots issues through news portals and YouTube channels.
Some of the journalists and news portals honoured by India Tomorrow include Meena Kotwal of The Mooknayak, Wasim Akram Tyagi, Shams Tabrez Qasmi of Millat Times, Ashraf Bastvi of Asia Times, freelance journalist Abhay Kumar, Maktoob Media, Pooja Pandey of The Janta Live, student and campus magazine `The Companion’, `The Hindustan Gazette’, Khushbu Akhtar and Nadeem Akhtar of Pal Pal News, and Rahim Khan of Janmanas Rajasthan.
Syed Khalique Ahmed, Chief Editor of India Tomorrow, said that they want an India where there is freedom of speech and the journalists do not have to face any difficulty expressing their views.
He said that unfortunately the scope of dialogue is narrowing and freedom of speech is being snatched which is a hindrance in building the India of tomorrow.
President of the Press Club of India, Umakant Lakhera, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the fourth pillar of democracy has been saved by the alternative media.
“We have to maintain the ethics of journalism even in this difficult situation,” he said.
He said that mainstream media is suppressing the news and it is the alternative media that has shared the suffering of the underprivileged.
Senior journalist and professor Pradeep Mathur said those aspiring to become journalists have to work honestly. He said journalism is also a big responsibility. “One has to focus on its authenticity,” he said.
Masihuzzama Ansari, the editor of India Tomorrow Hindi, lamented that the issues of the underprivileged and marginalized people are not being discussed in the newsrooms.
“Alternative media is the only medium which is working to bring the issues of Muslims, Dalits, and Tribals into the mainstream,” he said.
Professor Mohammed Salim Engineer of MNIT Jaipur said the alternative media is now the mainstream media of the country. “The fearless journalists are doing ground reporting. In the real sense, they are the fourth pillar of democracy,” he said.
Professor Salim said the time has come to stand for truth and democratic values. “Everyone should work with dedication,” he said.
The program was moderated by Arshad Sheikh, a senior journalist at India Tomorrow.
