SHILLONG, NOV 29: Twenty senior journalists of the state were given Excellence Awards for development of media in the state, working and contributing to the evolvement of journalism in Meghalaya at the closing function of the year long silver jubilee celebration of Mawphor, a reputed vernacular newspaper on Saturday.
The Mawphor-Lafarge Excellence Award for Development of Media were presented by the chief minister Mukul Sangma besides other guests and dignitaries during the closing ceremony at U Soso Tham Auditorium.
Urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh graced the occasion as the guest of honour . UDP legislator Metbah Lyngdoh and HSPDP legislator and for KHADC CEM Ardent Basaiawmoit were also present on the occasion.
The awards consisted of citation and cash prize.
Peitngor editor SS Syiem, news and information website www.ohmeghalaya.com editor Tilak Rai, , Nongsain Hima editor Lambok Thabah, Peitngor reporter Gershome Hat, Dongmusa’s K Nonsiej, , Grassroots options editor Sanath Chakraborty, , UNI correspondent Raymond Kharmujai, TNT managing editor Rajoo Sharma, Kynjatshai editor V Nongseij, and a special award for fearlessly discharging duty to Markus Lyngdoh of T7.
From Mawphor the awardees includes editor DL Siangshai, joint editor P Sohklet,Highland post editor John W Thabah, and staff M S Syiemlieh
The Shillong Times photo-journalist Sanjib Bhattacharjee, technician Oshini Das UB photo journalist Walton Jyrwa were also among those who received the Excellence award.
Speaking as the chief guest, chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “The government and the media, separately ensure that we have a society which is well informed, alert, vigilant and therefore capable of contributing positively in the growth and developmental process of the state.”
Congratulating the newspaper, the chief minister said the dedicated and loyal readers of Mawphor have been instrumental in motivating all friends who have been associated with Mawphor.
The chief minister was also of the view that if there are bigger number of readers dedicated to read newspapers the members associated with print media gets more motivated which is also responsible for the sustainability of media houses.
The chief minister also felt that well informed and enlighten individual of the society make a well informed and enlighten society which is very crucial for democracy. He said, “You have been able to ensure that people who are glued to reading newspaper in the morning remains your loyal readers, that happens obviously because of the credentials of the news that you carry and to have dedicated readers which is so crucial in sustaining of media houses.”
The chief minister observed that credibility becomes very important and it must strive to maintain credibility the news that the media carries. He said it requires a lot of hard work and commitment from all concern who collect, compile and reproduce them in an appropriate manner, protecting it from any kind of controversies which basically give the credibility to the newspaper.
Sangma later released the souvenir of Mawphor.
20 journalist from Meghlaya, not a single from garo hills???