Amid the green pine groves, rolling hills, golden paddy fields and blooming cosmos of Ziro Valley, a meaningful conversation on the responsibilities of journalism and the role of informed citizens unfolded at St. Claret College (Autonomous), Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Itanagar organised a Vartalap on the theme “Responsible Journalism, Informed Citizen & Nasha Mukt Bharat for Better Society”, bringing together working journalists from the Lower Subansiri region and students of the Mass Communication Department of St. Claret College. The programme provided a platform for journalists and aspiring media professionals to discuss fact-checking, research, verification, cross-checking of information and media literacy.

In his inaugural address, Shri Utsav Parmar, Joint Director, PIB, Itanagar, described fake news as “venom” and emphasised that responsible journalism is an important means of countering its spread. He spoke about the speed at which information travels in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly through digital and social media platforms, and observed that even a small piece of information can spread rapidly across communities.

Shri Parmar encouraged the students of Mass Communication to actively engage with the media ecosystem and invited the aspiring journalists to participate in Doordarshan's programme “Mera Gaon, Meri Kahani”, providing them an opportunity to tell stories from their communities and bring local narratives to a wider audience.

In his keynote address, Shri K. D. Singh, News Editor, Doordarshan Kendra, Itanagar, underlined the importance of verification before amplification. Emphasising the core values of journalism, he said that information must be cross-checked, facts verified and data interpreted carefully before being presented to the public.

Shri Singh also engaged with the participants through an interactive session, explaining how newspaper headlines can shape public understanding and highlighting the importance of context and accuracy in news reporting. He further shared information on the national and state de-addiction helplines 14446 and 14416, stressing the importance of awareness and timely support in the fight against substance abuse.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Fr. Allwyn Mendoz, Principal, St. Claret College (Autonomous), Ziro, highlighted the growing interest in Mass Communication among young people in remote regions such as Ziro. He said that everyone wants the nation to progress, although the approaches and perspectives may differ across communities and regions. He emphasised the importance of education and communication in understanding these diverse perspectives.

Shri Tanyang Pugang, President, Ziro Press Club, expressed gratitude to PIB, Itanagar for bringing the Vartalap initiative to Ziro and providing journalists and students in the region an opportunity to interact with media professionals and exchange views on contemporary journalistic challenges.

The programme also witnessed an engaging interaction between the participants and the panelists. Questions were raised on various aspects of journalism, including ethical reporting, verification of information and challenges faced by journalists in the field. Working journalists associated with media organisations including Times Ziro, AP Direct and Amaaba Ziro also participated in the discussions and shared their experiences, including perspectives on issues concerning women journalists.

The participation of both working journalists and Mass Communication students added an inter-generational dimension to the Vartalap, creating a space where professional experience met the aspirations of future journalists.

The programme reinforced the message that in an age of rapid information flow, responsible journalism, informed citizenship and media literacy are essential pillars of a better and more resilient society

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