Bhubaneswar: The State-level National Press Day was celebrated on Sunday at the Information & Public Relations Department, with experts emphasising the critical role of media in ensuring accurate and responsible reporting.
Former Utkal University Political Science professor, Surya Narayan Mishra, who was the chief guest, highlighted that the media has always been instrumental in safeguarding democracy.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Preserving Media Credibility in the Context of Increasing Misleading News,” he stressed the need for journalists to verify facts before publication.
Keynote speaker Dr. Devilal Mishra, Associate Professor at Ravenshaw University, warned that misleading news could harm both society and democratic processes. He urged media personnel to carefully review all information before it reaches the public.
Anuj Kumar Das Pattanaik, Director of the Department of Information and Public Relations, noted that students and professionals rely heavily on media sources for competitive examinations and general awareness. He called for responsible journalism and avoidance of misleading news. Gurveer Singh, Director (Technical), added that even unintentional errors in reporting can impact society, making vigilance essential. Senior journalist Pitabasa Mishra also shared his insights during the program.
The event also included awards for university-level elocution competitions in Odia and English. In the Odia category, Simran from Birla Global University won first place, Shashwati Priyadarshini from Utkal University secured second, and Barsha Nayak from Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Autonomous College took third. In English, Samina T. Gandwa of KIIT University won first, Krishna Priyadarshini Hota of BJB Autonomous College second, and Archita Bhanja of Birla Global University third. Shashank Shekhar Das, popularly known as ‘Paperman India,’ was honored for his contribution to the newspaper exhibition.
The Press Day exhibition, held at Jayadev Bhavan, displayed 501 newspapers and periodicals, including 93 magazines, 17 foreign newspapers, and 240 Odia daily and vintage publications.
The event was inaugurated by Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Information & Public Relations.
The program was introduced by Director Sucheta Priyadarshini and coordinated by Information Officer Rojalin Sahoo, with participation from departmental officials, media representatives, and intellectuals.
