Chandigarh, Oct 17 (IANS) Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore on Monday called upon the media to develop a self-regulatory mechanism so as to project before the government the right picture of the issues relating to the people.
Addressing the Regional Editors' Conference here, Badnore said: "The media's role is important to raise issues concerning the common people."
He also cited examples of "paid news" and urged the media to come forward to check this "menace".
Director General of PIB A.P. Frank Naronha, who was also present on the occasion, said: "Media has an onerous responsibility both as a facilitator and as a watchdog to ensure that the fruits of development are distributed to the deserving."
He said the conference is being organised with an objective to provide "an opportunity to the editors of the regional press to interact directly with the Ministers on crucial issues concerning their respective Ministries".
Representatives of six Union Ministries -- Ministry of Home Affairs, Women & Child Development Ministry, Road Transport & Highways Ministry, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution Ministry and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare Ministry -- would preside over the respective sessions, an official said.
The Ministry for Development of North East Region would also be taking part in the two-day conference.
Editors from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Chandigarh are taking part in the conference.
