Corporate ownership colours journalism: Omar

Addressing at a function organized by a newspaper publication house to award outstanding students here, he said that working of journalists should be free from all influences so that they could fairly and freely file their stories and commentaries regarding different issues and aspects.

He said credibility, authenticity and fair reporting should be the benchmark of functioning of media for the larger interests of the society and the country.

He said media is the fourth pillar of democracy as he highlighted its responsibility of keeping society well-versed with authentic news feeds.

He said newspapers and other modes of media have a greater role to play in creating positivity and nurturing rule of law. He said media has also social responsibility in addressing community and social issues.

The Chief Minister said that politician and media share close relations and both are complementary and supplementary to each other.

Omar Abdullah said that present technological advancement has put greater challenge to the print media in its reaching out to people
speedily and in a time bound manner. He said people are eager to know the happenings around the world and choose fastest means for the same.

However, he added that the importance of newspapers is at its place.

He said that modern technological interventions need to be adopted by print media to expand its outreach and strengthen the news flow system.

Congratulating the award winners, the Chief Minister mentioned the pressure students have to bear in the prevailing educational system for acquiring admission in reputed educational institutions in the disciplines they want to pursue their goals. He underlined the need of enhancing the accessibility of students to higher education as also to widen the scope of studying the subjects of their choice.

Omar Abdullah on the occasion also launched the website of the newspaper.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)