CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Beginning with the reference, “Jambudweepe Bharatkhande Bharatvarshe Aryavarte…”, Nagaland University Chancellor and senior journalist Samudra Gupta Kashyap opened a special lecture organised in the Department of Electronic Media on the occasion of Doordarshan’s 67th anniversary. Pointing to India’s cultural unity and the links between its diverse geographical regions, he said different parts of the country have their own languages, cultures and lifestyles, but despite these diversities, everyone is part of one India.
Kashyap’s address focused mainly on understanding and reducing the distance between Northeast India and the rest of the country. During the programme, Head of the Department of Electronic Media Monika Verma and Associate Sanjeev Gupta welcomed Kashyap by presenting him with a book. Teachers and students of the department were present at the lecture.
Interacting with students, Kashyap discussed the importance of factual accuracy, credibility, research and ground reporting in journalism. He said that before preparing a report on any subject, it is necessary not only to verify the facts but also to understand its social, cultural and historical context.
Referring to his journalism experience in Northeast India, he said that for reporting on any region, knowledge of the incident site alone is not enough. A journalist must work at the ground level to understand the real conditions of the place and its people. He advised students to develop the habit of regular study, research and asking questions.
During the interaction session, MA BJ third-semester student Tanushree Gupta asked that amid the growing influence of digital platforms and private news channels, Doordarshan is being watched less today than earlier. In such a situation, she asked, in what form does Doordarshan remain relevant in the present time?
In response, Kashyap said Doordarshan’s credibility has not diminished. He said Doordarshan comes under the government, and therefore it also has certain special responsibilities. According to him, when viewers need credible and fact-based news, Doordarshan remains an important medium even today. He said that despite the changing media landscape, Doordarshan continues to have a role in providing reliable information.
Jyoti Shukla from MA BJ third semester asked about the difference between the media of North East and North India and the lower representation of people from the Northeast in mainstream media. She asked why people from Northeast India are seen comparatively less in national media and on social media, and what differences exist in the functioning of media institutions in the two regions.
Replying to this, Kashyap described the “mind block” and distance between the North and the North East as an important reason. He said people from both regions do not understand each other sufficiently. Giving an example, he said that when people from the North are asked whether they have visited the states of the North East, their answer is often that the region is very far away. Similarly, people from the Northeast also maintain a distance in relation to North India. He said local and state-level media institutions are working at their own levels, but there is a need to increase dialogue and mutual understanding between the two regions. According to him, the media can play an important role in reducing this distance.
Kashyap told the students that along with technical proficiency in journalism, an understanding of facts, an impartial approach and a tendency to keep learning are essential. During the lecture, students also asked other questions related to journalism, media credibility and representation of the Northeast, which Kashyap answered on the basis of his experience. On the occasion, all students of MAC third semester, MA BJ third semester and BSc fifth semester were present.
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