THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veteran journalist K Sashikumar, founder-chairman of Asianet and Asian School of Journalism was awarded the coveted Swadesabhimani-Kesari award here on Monday by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. While wishing him all success to mould a new generation of responsible media persons, the Chief Minister said that the award was being bestowed upon a person who had made his indelible mark in the media world was heartening.
Presiding over the function, Public Relations Minister K C Joseph said that though the government had no intention to put any curbs on the media, it was time for all to go in for an introspection whether prudence was guiding them anymore in the coverage of news.
“Many in the media had indulged in fuelling rancour and animosity between Malayalees and Tamilians in the Mullaperiyar issue beyond limits. The electronic media should think for themselves whether it is good to carry sensational reports for merely raising their ratings,” he said.
Receiving the award and a caricature on him, Sashikumar said the process of renaissance in the media world of the country should begin from Kerala. In the era of RTI Act and Wikileaks, information rush to the people and none could cover up anything for long.
“At the same time, credibility and freedom is equally important in media work. The faith of the people is paramount and it is the duty of the media to see to it that it is not lost,” Sashikumar said. A short film brought out by the PRD was screened on the occasion. Senior journalist K M Roy, KUWJ state president K C Rajagopal, Information and Public Relations secretary T J Mathew, director-in-charge A Firoz, additional director Jacob Samson and T’Puram Press Club president Pradeep Pillai, among others, participated.