May 4, 2013 - World Press Freedom Day - WPFD to be observed on 3 May every year was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993 as a day "to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession."
Online journalism or e-journalism or cyber news is rapidly becoming a milestone in the media industry taking news from anywhere to everywhere and from anyone to everyone. While traditional media is linear, online journalism takes a non-linear approach to news. The Internet, web logs, search engines, and RSS feeds are the new tools of Computer Assisted Reporting (CAR). Free press releases distribution services built on the principles of SEO - Search Engine Optimization have added an exciting dimension to online journalism and press freedom.
The media landscape has changed beyond recognition in the last two decades with the power unleashed by the internet, popularity of wikis and blogs as well as the mind boggling social networking such as Twitter and Facebook. The generation gap in journalism, between mainstream and new media has been emerging fast in recent times.
The world of digital media is dominated by a generation that eats, sleeps, breathes and most importantly thinks online. This digital generation for whom their tablet is the writing pad and internet is the all in all for research does not struggle over an article for days or rewrite endlessly in search of that perfect introduction. As mainstream media-houses expand their digital business units, there is now a clear difference in how these teams are approaching content.
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 3 May 2013 with Theme Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in all Media, Sangam University Bhilwara organized a panel discussion comprising of experts from judiciary, media and NGOs.
Chief Guest for the function was Bhilwara Addl Chief Judicial Magistrate Mr CP Singh. Bhilwara Judicial Magistrates Sri Vishal Bharadwaj and Sri Sharat Vyas, Mr Ashok Jain President National Awareness Forum Bhilwara, Dr Pradeep Bhatnagar Editorial Incharge Dainik Bhaskar Bhilwara, Ms Manju Pokharna well known Social Activist Bhilwara addressed the audience which was followed by a question answer session.
Dainik Bhaskar’s Dr Pradeep Bhatnagar got a loud round round of applause from the audience when he spoke about the arrest of two young girls who had posted in Facebook questioning Mumbai shutdown for Shiv Sena Founder Bal Thackeray’s funeral.
Well known BITS Pilani alumnus and HT Media Buisness Newspaper LiveMint Editor Mr R Sukumar also shared thought provoking thoughts with the audience about Press Freedom. Prof BR Natarajan President - Vice Chancellor presented mementos to the dignitaries and proposed vote of thanks.
The function was organized by the Social & Green Club of Sangam University and the proceedings were anchored by Sangam University BTech students Ms Falguni Agarwal and Mr Shubham Sharma.
The Institution supported by Sangam Group of Industries which is one among the top ranking corporates in India today with business interests spanning textiles, steel, infrastructure, power and energy has been established by Govt. of Rajasthan Act No. 14 of 2012 incorporated u/s 2(f) of UGC Act 1956. For more details see http://www.sangamuniversity.ac.in (http://www.sangamuniversity.ac.in)
