Guard credibility despite stiff competition, Virbhadra to

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today called upon the media to guard its credibility despite the growing impact and stiff competition by social media.
Presiding over a National Press Day function here, Singh said the media should respond to these challenges in a positive way and demonstrate abiding faith in ethics despite stiff competition.
"Newsis an important part and has greater impacton people and in the present context both electronic and print media are playing a pivotal role," Singh said.
Today a lot is happening in India and even other countries are keen to know about the social and political developments here, and the responsibility of the media lies in projecting a positive image of the country, he said.

Asking mediapersons to inculcate positive thinking, Singh said Indian media by and large acted responsibly and it should be maintained at all costs.
He said the media influences social change and has become an important tool for creating public opinion and raising public issues.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced enhancement of cash prizes of the National Development Journalism Award from Rs 51,000 to Rs one lakh and state award from Rs 40,000 to Rs 75,000.
He also announced hike in cash award for electronic media and district development journalism awards to Rs 50,000.
Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said the National Press day is of the media and for the media.

He said this year's theme on Press Day 'The Impact and Import of Cartooning and Caricature as a Medium of Expression of Opinion cartoons' was topical as the impact and efficacy of cartoons was much more.
Agnihotri said the government is mulling a national convention of media next year and added that the Congress-led state government is always committed to protecting the freedom of press.
Consultant and prominent cartoonist Rajinder Dhorparkad said cartoons speak in themselves and convey more than words can say and form an important ingredient of democracy and secularism. He also remembered Jawahar Lal Nehru for encouraging the trend of cartoon caricature.