Goa Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, urged journalists to fact-check information before disseminating it to the public due to the rise of fake news. He was speaking on the occasion of National Press Day event organised by the Department of Information and Publicity.
He emphasised the need for journalists to verify information before sharing it, given the rapid spread of fake news in recent times.
He further mentioned the importance of conducting a thorough evaluation of individuals who claim to be journalists and said that people need to have proper accreditation as journalists.
Sawant also pointed out that with the growing importance of journalism in the modern world, the government is actively encouraging its development. "Currently, we have three institutions in the state that provide journalism degree and we are working towards establishing more such programmes," said Sawant.
The Government has raised the pension amount for journalists in the state as a way to motivate and assist them, Sawant added. Additionally, they have implemented new schemes to provide further support to journalists.
Sawant said that journalists should not only concentrate on exposing the government's wrongdoings, but also be aware of the positive actions they take. It is also important to shed light on work done by NGOs and other entities,
He concluded by stating that the responsibility of a journalist is to provide information that showcases both the positive and negative actions taking place in the state.
The National Press Day celebrations were followed by awards and felicitation of journalists who have made significant contributions to the field. Pramod Khandeparkar, a veteran journalist, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Other senior journalists who recieved awards were Vijay Desouza (Editor of Navhind Times); Ashley Do Rosario (senior journalist at The Goan Everyday); Vilas Mahadik, (senior journalist at Gomantak); Narendra Tari, (senior journalist at Pudhari); and Vithu Sukhadkar (senior journalist at Lokmat).
Many other awards were also given to journalists in various categories.