Report by Michael Rodrigues
Team Mangalorean Udupi

Udupi : Udupi District Working Journalists  Association held  'Journalist Day 'Celebrations on Sunday, July 1 in Nayarkere IMA Bhavan, Brahmagiri. Asha Krishna Swamy, Special Correspondent of Deccan Herald inaugurated the programme by unveiling a picture of  "Mangalore Samachar", first Newspaper in the entire state.

In her inaugural speech Asha Krishna Swamy said that "Journalists need to be careful while reporting.  Now that people have developed questioning attitude, a stage has arrived where people disbelieve what has been read in the media.  At times you can observe, Journalists have sold their freedom for writing.  Most of the reporting being mere criticism, matters touching the heart of the reader is diminishing today. 

Internet Media is growing at a faster pace than the Print Media, so reporters are faced with a situation to write today of what might have been tomorrow.  Expressing distress over the Media forgetting its social commitment, in the bid to dish out negative reporting, we tend to forget offering positive reporting to the readers. Today reports touching the readers are lacking.  Since people tend to question things before accepting it ".

Main speaker SK Shyam Sunder, Editor of www.one India.com  said that "Every reader is resorting to Website Media toady, since many Website Media are created in English.  There are quite a few such websites in Kannada, this must change.  More and more Kannada Website Media must evolve.  Certain Websites in the Coastal region reporting factual matters at a fast pace being very responsible body is resorting to Internet Website Media.  Certain Websites in the Coastal area act very responsibly giving real news in great speed, Mangalorean.com can be appreciated for the same for its interpretation & elucidation of news or narrative with precision".

Prizes to the winners in the Essay Competition held on the occasion of "Newspaper Day Celebration", as part of Journalism day celebrations for School Children were distributed. Subhaschandra Wagle, Rahim Ujire, Prasanna Gaonkar, Deepak Jain, Shashidhar Mastibail were as Judges for the competition held.  Rahim Ujire shared his views on behalf of the Judges on the occasion.

Senior UNI reporter Madhavacharya was felicitated by  the Working Journalists Association on the occasion.  Talented reporters like Puthige Padmanabha Rai, Astro Mohan, Mohammed, Sharif Karkala, Katapady Prakash Suvarna, Vilas Kumar Nitte, KC Kumar Nitte, KC Rajesh, Hemnath Padubidre, Janardhana Kodavoor, Suresh Ermal were felicitated on the occasion.

Journalists held interaction with SK Shyamsundar and Asha Krishnaswamy later.  DYSP Prabhdev Mane was the Chief Guest of the programme and Kiran Manjanbail, President of Working Journalists' Association presided over the function.

Jayakar Suvarna, Secretary for District Working Journalists Forum welcomed the guests, Secretary Umesh Marpally proposed a vote of thanks.  "Janashree" reporter Prasanna Gaonkar anchored the programme.  After the stage function,  Tulu film directed by Journalist Prakash Suvarna Katapady was screened.

Several pictures taken by journalists on different occasions were exhibited on the occasion of the celebration of Newspaper Day Celebrations held.