By Violet Pereira, Team Mangalorean

Mangalore :  Sandesha Prathistana in association with Pingara weekly and Raknno Weekly, organized, "Journalism Day",  in Sandesh Hall, Bajjodi here on July 1.

The programme began with a prayer dance by Vani Rajgopal and group.  Director of Sandesha Prathistana Fr Vijay Victor Lobo welcomed the gathering. 

President, Dakshina Kannada Working Journalist Association P B Harish Rai, recalling the days of Mögling's career at Mangalore said that there was no simple way of communicating news and other items to the general public because of non-existence of a medium like radio and of a newspaper in the native language.

" Herman Mogling thought that the society was in darkness, and it was like a close room without windows. To bring the society to light we need to create windows to the rooms and so he started Mangalooru Samachara in 1843. Media sheds light on the society by giving fair news but in recent days media is also misleading people by giving partial news". he said.

He continued further and said, "Media is a medium to educate people, it is not only limited for news but it is educating people by publishing all types of news.  If there is any untoward incident happening in the society, be it in the political, educational or any other field, media should be unbiased in publishing the news.

Journalist Steevan Rego, Laxmi Machina from Belthangady, and Shehanaz from Anupama were felicitated on the occasion. 

Addressing the gathering Director of Fathima Retreat House, Fr Dr Eugine Lobo said, "We do not know how many have the habit of reading newspaper every morning.  In other states people prefer to read newspapers.  We need to inculcate the habit of reading newspapers".  Further he said that, journalists cannot create news but it is the duty of the journalists to provide unbiased news to the readers.  Journalists should know the taste of the readers because human being is curious to know about the happenings in the society as well as in the world.  Media should give such news which educate the readers as well as which makes the readers happy.  He also shared his experience when he was in the Vatican Radio.

Editor of Raknno , Fr Francis Rodrigues delivered the vote of thanks.  There was a cultural programme by the students of Sandesha.