Mysore/Mysuru: The Director of Akashvani Mysore S.S. Umesh has said ‘The programmes like honouring journalists with awards are essential to recognise their services and encourage them further.”

Umesh spoke during a programme organised by Mysore District Journalists Association (MDJA) to confer K.V. Srinivasan Endowment Awards instituted by Senior journalist K.V. Srinivasan (Brother) at Patrakarthara Bhavana this morning.

“We should be grateful to Srinivasan and also follow in his footsteps. Only journalists from State and National-levels are recognised, while those in the District-level are mostly ignored despite their enormous contributions to the realm. I am also a journalism graduate, as at Akashvani there are no restrictions and everybody should report programmes of all the fields,” said Umesh.

Akashvani also airs a programme called ‘Patrakartha’ and I have interviewed 163 journalists so far. I remember them all. We have to replicate programmes at the district-level too or bring out books about them, which will be useful for next generation, added Umesh.

Srinivasan said, “The Endowment Awards comprising eight categories was instituted in the year 2002 to encourage younger journalists. We should protect media which is regarded as the fourth pillar of the society.”

Senior journalist and TSR Awardee D. Mahadevappa said, “Of late journalism is turning into a ‘literature in a hurry’. Unlike previous years, there is a depletion in seasonal rainfall this year, but the politicians and journalists have kept mum over this. The journalists should develop social commitment as the professional commitment is on a wane.  Owing to job insecurity too, the journalists are opting to become Media Advisors to Ministers, which is not a good sign.”

The young journalists are assured of many facilities which they should use judiciously to display their social commitment. The people also have abundant faith in print media and the onus of retaining the faith is on young journalists, said Mahadevappa.

Following journalists were given awards in differing categories: R. Suvarna of Nagara Belaku was conferred ‘Mahatma Gandhi’ Award from the category of print media; M.A. Sriram of The Hindu, ‘Janakamma Venkatappa Gowda’ Award from photographer’s section; S. Manjunath (Beechanahalli Manju) of Mysuru Mithra, H.D. Kote, with K. V. Srinivasan Award from rural category and Bapu Lingaraja Urs (BLU) of Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra (formerly of Kasturi TV) ‘JP Memorial Media Award’ from ‘Visual Media’ category.

President of MDJA S.T. Ravikumar (RK), City Vice-President M. N. Basavanna, Rural Vice-President Dharmapura Narayan, General Secretary M. Subramanya, Executive Committee members Machamma Mallige and M. Krishnoji Rao were present.