National seminar on media crisis ends with discussion on fake news

Chandigarh March 10, 2019

        The two-day national seminar on “Crises in media: An existential conundrum” organized by ICSSR (NW) and School of Communication Studies, Panjab University concluded here today with a panel discussion on fake news, the role of education to train journalists and the thriving virtual media.

        The panelists included MrJyoti kamal, News Editor CNN network and News18, Mr. Manu Moudgil, freelance online environment journalist, Prof Manoj Dayal, Dept of Mass Communication, Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, Mr. Mukesh Kharbanda, MD Fusion PR. and the session was moderated by Professor Akshay Kumar, Dept of English, PU.

        Jyoti Kamal while accepting the crises said, “Media is not a thoughtless platform”. He added that the media has always been in crises but has also emerged out of it successfully. Manu Moudgil said that the online portals are overtaking the mainstream media. He added, “There are not only technological but also human filters in online platforms”.

        Mukesh Kharbanda said, “Media is not in any crises but it is flourishing however, the casualty is media” and also added that advertising budgets are on the rise. Professor Manoj Dayal suggested that while they teach media students about the ethics and journalistic codes, there is a lack of the same in practice.

        The two technical sessions preceding the panel discussion saw over one dozen papers on various topics like fake news, coverage of health issues in media, advertising and its effects and public relations handling of crises situations.

        Prof Archana Singh, Chairperson of the School of Communication
Studies presented the seminar report in the end and said that it has been a very productive session and assured many such events in the future.