post news network, Bhubaneswar May 17: We wake up early in the morning with mind at its receptive best and open a newspaper only to read stories that trigger negative emotions. Can the journalists not stop playing up such news, at least, on the front page? Asked B K Leena, sub-zone in-charge, Brahmakumaris, Bhubaneswar addressing a seminar, “Value-based media for a healthy and happy society”, hosted by the media wing of Rajyoga Education and Research Foundation, to mark the silver jubilee celebrations of the Unit VIII Brahmakumaris centre here. She underlined the need to look ‘inwards’, instead of going ‘outwards’ to get rid of the stress and strains that affect a modern man and the role media may play to help alleviate the sufferings faced by him in the society. Meditation is a journey in silence which is the key to peaceful living, she reiterated.
In his keynote address B K Sushant, national coordinator, media wing, RE and RF, New Delhi said the society today was standing at the crossroads because of conflicting values between spirituality and consumerism. The media, more often than not, has been compromising on ethics in a bid to sustain itself. The situation, he felt, can only improve if a media person introspects, instead of being swayed away by external forces.
B K Shantanu, HQ coordinator, media wing, RE & RF, Mount Abu, pointed out one has to transform oneself to bring about change in the society. He urged the media to become more involved in that change-process by circulating ‘positive’ news.
The mediapersons who took part in the deliberations included S R Patnaik, editor of an Oriya daily, who in his address as the chief guest, acknowledged the ‘shortcomings’ of the media, as pointed out by the Brahmakumaris. He said media men were not ‘deities’ but ‘human beings’ who had to run a business. The best that could be expected of them is to prevent the erosion of democratic values in the society. The other newsmen who spoke at the seminar were N Mohanty, D K Bisoi, Orissa chief of a financial daily.
Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena also attended the function.
