THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Media in Kerala enjoy immense freedom and hence they should do self-introspection often, opined Cultural Affairs Minister A K Balan.“Newsrooms should not be one-sided. TV channels often devise strategies to make viewers hooked on to the screen,” he said after distributing the State Television Awards 2016 at Tagore Theatre here on Wednesday.
The minister said cash prizes of State Television awards will be hiked from next year.
“Within a short span of time Keralites have fallen for the visual media. TV has made giant leaps in communication and entertainment segments. TV channels can work for a creative change in the minds of viewers and pave way for cultural progress,” he said.
“Though TV channels can make big contributions in the education sector they have done little. There is immense possibility for programmes based on visualisation of school textbooks.
Balan said the government was moving ahead with various programmes to rejuvenate the cinema and literature sectors. Work of the permanent venue for IFFK will begin next April.V S Sivakumar MLA presided over the function. He released the TV Award book by presenting a copy to Deputy Mayor Rakhi Ravikumar.
Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal, chairmen of juries Dr George Onakkoor, Dr B Ekbal and A K Sajan, jury member Kazhakoottam Premkumar, Culture Secretary Rani George and Academy secretary Mahesh Panju spoke.