Speaker's concern over trends in media

Mangalagiri (Guntur): Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar has expressed concern over certain trends in journalism and said that media houses were "shying away from people's problems". He was a chief guest during the 10th anniversary celebrations of Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, he lamented that the present day journalism was not giving priority to local culture and traditions. ``The role of scribes is crucial in solving people's problems. Journalism is not merely reporting something. The newsmen should have complete understanding of the problems faced by the society,'' he said. The Speaker called upon the journalism students to concentrate on rural issues and attain authority over farming, politics, sports and economics to justify their profession. ``The media persons should personally tour rural belts for obtaining first hand information about the plight of the people. They should focus on issues like rural sanitation which is worst when compared with neighbouring Bangladesh. The villages are not getting proper funds allocation to improve basic facilities at field level. The role of reporters in society building is crucial and because of this very fact that journalism is considered as Fourth Estate,'' he said. Stating that his entry into politics was influenced by inspiring media reports, Nadendla said that good reports could be made when the reporters personally interact with the suffering lot. Unlike local media, foreign journalism was giving 70 per cent coverage on employment and economy followed by politics and sports, he informed. The Speaker promised the ANU authorities to persuade the government to extend a financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to the university for starting skill development programme for the journalism students.