The Department of Convergent Journalism (DCJ), Central University of Kashmir (CUK) organised a day-long workshop on World Press Freedom Day at the Nowgam Campus-I here on Friday.
Director, Nowgam Campus-I, Prof. Wali Muhammad Shah, DeanSchool of Media Studies, Prof. Hamidullah Marazi, DCJ Coordinator, Dr. JohnBabu Koyye, Senior Editor, Greater Kashmir, Hilal Ahmad Mir, Senior AssistantProfessors Shahnaz Bashir, Dr. Asif Khan, Dr. Nookaraju Bendukurthi, studentsand staff was present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Wali Muhammad Shah said thatthis day has great importance for the media students as well as for the workingjournalists, as “they face many types of press censorship” in their course ofwork. He said that as media is the main pillar of a democracy, it needs to bestrengthened by awareness programs.
Prof. Hamidullah Marazi asked the media students to have knowledgeof laws related to the freedom of press, as, according to him, “Journalists arefrequently under threat.” He added that the significance of this day is basedon to protect the journalists worldwide and to sympathize with those, who havelaid down their lives in the field of duty.
Hilal Ahmad Mir deliberated upon the Press Freedom in timesof disinformation and talked about issues like Fake News. He said that it is upto the journalist to choose an organization, where he or she doesn’t have tocompromise or work in an organization where “freedom is curbed.”
Dr. John Babu Koyye stressed upon the freedom of Press asmost important issue in the times of “declining” press freedom world-wide.”Journalists are restricted to report and for such situation, we need tobe prepared,” he said.
Earlier, senior assistant Prof , Shahnaz Bashir, said thatthis workshop will help the students to acquire skills and techniques from theexperienced resource person.
Dr. Asif Khan, senior assistant professor, while presentinghis concluding remarks talked about the importance of press freedom incontemporary times and emphasized on role of personal, professional ethicswhile exercising freedom of press.A mobile short film competition was organisedwherein students of both semesters prepared seven short films concerning thetheme of the event. In the second session, Hilal Mir gave lecture on copy editing and engaged the students