ITANAGAR, May 3: Home Minister Bamang Felix today appealed to the state press fraternity to uphold journalistic ethics while expressing concern over the unregulated mushrooming of media houses in the state over the last few years.
Felix said this when a delegation of the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalist (APUWJ) led by its president Amar Sangno today called on him at his official residence here and submitted a seven-point memorandum. The APUWJ submitted memorandum while observing the World Press Freedom Day. 
The seven-point memorandum include enactment of a special law for protection of journalists in line with such law enacted by the Maharashtra government, ensuring safety and security of journalists in the state, life insurance scheme for accredited journalists, publishing status of investigation of all the journalists attack cases and ensuring justice to the families of the journalists being assaulted since 1980 in the state without further delay, etc.
The Home Minister on his part assured to pursue all the points in the memorandum while reiterating the importance of free press for democracy to function.
Meanwhile, the Minister appealed to the press fraternity to ensure that journalistic ethics are upheld by all its affiliated members.
Expressing concern over the unregulated mushrooming of media houses in the state over past few years, the Minister suggested APUWJ to work out modalities for ensuring a healthy growth of journalism in the state.
“The state government is committed towards the safety and security of journalists. But it is imperative to first identify who is doing ethical journalism so that they can be protected,” said Minister Felix.
Adding that not only journalists but suppression of any person or group is not tolerated by the Chief Minister Pema Khandu-led-state government, Minister Felix said that freedom of speech is an important part of the democracy but it is vital that everyone exercise this right with responsibility.
Home Minister also raised concern about growing numbers of unregistered media channels and media persons. He  appealed to the APUWJ to regulate the growing number of unregistered media persons. 
The Minister further extended his best wishes to journalists across the world on the occasion of ‘World Press Freedom Day’ and called on to them to uphold journalistic ethics for a vibrant and progressive democracy.
APUWJ President Amar Sangno called upon  the fellow working journalists to  uphold   the journalistic principles and ethics while practising the profession and be voice of the voiceless without fear and favour. 
“Being in this profession, people have faith in us and we do have huge responsibility. We should live up the expectations of people to make this country and state a vibrant democracy” Sangno said.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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