BHUBANESWAR:Media should play a constructive role in mobilising public opinion over crucial issues related to development, Chairman-Business World, Anurag Batra said here on Sunday.
Addressing the colloquium on role of media in defining political, social and academic aspects of the society, Batra exhorted the media to shun political affiliations and strive for unbiased coverage.
Speaking at the colloquium organised by Kalinga TV, a KIIT-KISS venture which was launched recently, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said the media has to draw a distinct line between relevant news and the promoted opinion.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan highlighted illiteracy and low per capita income of Odisha. “These issues are paramount and the media can play a pivotal role in changing the dynamics,” he said.
Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati said media is the most effective channel for enlightening rural mass on various Government schemes. “Media also acts as an interface between Government and people to facilitate functioning of the latter,” he added.
Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Pradip Kumar Amat, Zimbabwean Ambassador to India Maxwell Ranga and Rajya Sabha member Ranjib Biswal also expressed their views at the inaugural session of the programme.
The event spread over three sessions on topics like “Space in electronic media for under-privileged”, “Reconciling freedom and accountability: Media in information consuming era” and “Odisha 2020”.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra, Asia Head of Financial Times Victor Mallet, managing partner of Counselage India Suhel Seth, actress and ad maker Avantika, Environmental Advisor to Prime Minister Srikanta Kumar Panigrahi and former South Asia producer of BBC TV Shubhranshu Choudhary were among who participated in the symposium.