Nagaland Legislative Assembly speaker Sharingain Longkumer said that over the last 25 years, Nagaland, as a state and society, has made progress, while there are areas where collective achievement has not been reached but many areas sharing their success stories
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Harnessing Media Vibrancy, Embracing New Frontiers was the theme as the Dimapur Press Club (DPC) in its 25th years into disseminating news to the local populace and beyond, a simple yet an impressive programme was held at the Dimapur Government College Auditorium in the presence of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) speaker, Sharingain Longkumer, as the special guest.
Stating that over the past five years as a member of the NLA and the Speaker, he happened to learn two sides to “truth”, however, he went on to add that there is a “third side” which according to him is “one’s opinion” and later emphasized on how and where an opinion expressed could carry significant importance.
“Many readers and listeners are unaware of which side they should project their opinion”, he said while pointing out that the very platform is where the opinion shared becomes significant.
Sharingain Longkumer said that over the last 25 years, Nagaland, as a state and society, has made progress, while there are areas where collective achievement has not been reached but many areas sharing their success stories.
While acknowledging the senior editors of different local dailies who have been vocal about women’s empowerment, captivating public opinion for many years, spending countless hours, including endless midnights, preparing editorials as a reflection of the times, Longkumer pointed out that today, as newspapers are reviewed, there are many conventions and practices that need to be evolved or moved away from.
He stated that it is necessary to grow beyond the conventions and general practices that have long been followed and elucidated that embracing new frontiers comes with significant responsibility at the same time also observed that percentages of young children in the age groups of seven and eight years were often seen fiddling with mobile phones given to them by their parents or siblings for which he emphasised that it is a social issue which requires attention and concern of everyone. In this regard, the NLA speaker urged upon the media fraternity to raise such issues and focus on their social responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the theme speaker of the DPC’s Silver Anniversary, Deputy News Director, Asia Pacific at The Associated Press (AP), Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome, noted that while Nagaland operates within its unique ecosystem, the state of media freedom in India presents a concerning picture.
She highlighted that the country’s ranking on the global media freedom index has significantly declined and acknowledged the challenges faced by independent media in India, noting that while a few fiercely independent media houses continue to uphold fact-based journalism, their numbers are steadily shrinking.
Yhome praised the bravery and resilience of journalists and media organisations who persist despite the growing difficulties.
She expressed hope that Nagaland would embrace fact-based journalism, avoiding the role of merely echoing the voices of the government or large corporations.
Yhome observed that too much time is often spent reporting on issues of lesser significance, which could be better utilised for impactful investigative journalism.
Addressing editors, she urged them to provide journalists with the resources and time needed to focus on meaningful stories that have a lasting impact on society and contribute to the progress of the community.
Sharing her recent experience in Longwa village (Mon) bordering Nagaland and Myanmar, Yhome described the heavy presence of the Indian Army in the area.
She recounted a discussion with the council chairman, who revealed that daily meetings were being held due to the Army’s insistence on acquiring a room or house to issue permits to Nagas residing on the Myanmar side of the border.
This development followed the removal of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), a move largely opposed by Nagas living along the India-Myanmar border, except in Manipur, which stands as an exception.
She highlighted Longwa’s unique significance to the Naga identity, as the village straddles both India and Myanmar. The impact of this artificial boundary is deeply felt by the 200 affected households, including six Morungs, the village church, and the playground.
Expressing concern, she noted that such significant developments should have been reported in the media, allowing the voices of Longwa villagers, who remain uncertain about how to respond to these changes, to reach a broader audience.
She emphasized that such stories need to be reported, as they have the potential to inform policymakers and decision-makers who might otherwise be unaware of these developments.
Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome, also urged journalists and the editors to prioritise stories that truly matter—stories that can shape the future, create meaningful impact, and authentically represent the Naga identity. She called for a shift towards narratives that depict the realities and aspirations of the community.
She also said that the Artificial Intelligence (AI), is here to stay and there is no going back by citing that there are good ways to use it.
According to her, the second major challenge today is the way news is consumed as she mentioned that 2/3rd of news was now consumed through social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
She noted the presence of newspapers and broadcast channels on social media, emphasising the need to embrace the fact that news consumption will increasingly shift to phones and computers.
She acknowledged the large young generation embracing this shift but expressed concern over the rise of influencers and individuals who are also becoming “journalists” with a note that while this could be positive, it also complicates the work of traditional journalists.
Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome explained that information shared could sometimes be incomplete or one-sided but it is where the professionalism in journalism plays a crucial role in providing fact-based and truthful news before misinformation or half truths are spread.
Yhome also appealed to the people in suggesting that they start conversations about the need for funding in journalism while stressing on the importance of securing financial support to ensure quality reporting for which she expressed her belief that
there are ways to address the issue, acknowledging that media houses in Nagaland likely face struggles with funding.
Giving a brief gist on the formation of the Dimapur Press Club (DPC), convener, planning committee, Dilip Sharma, said that it was in the year 1999 when four of the Dimapur based journalists decided to form the existing club and coined as Dimapur Press Club the same year in the month of December, structured organization in order to address the unique concerns and challenges faced by media professionals in Dimapur.
He also highlighted the various activities and initiatives undertaken by the club over the past 25 years and led a minute of silence in remembrance of those who had passed away during that time.
Earlier, delivering his welcome address, DPC president, Imkong Walling, remarked that 25 years existence is a quarter of a century’s journey towards including in human’s lives, however, he said that the 25th anniversary celebration of the DPC not only reflects on the past but also looks forward to the future which according to him the theme resonate with the current challenges and opportunities facing the profession.
He also acknowledged the rapid evolution of the media landscape and emphasized that it is up to journalists to adapt and redefine the news they broadcast with objectivity.
Nagaland Page editor, Monalisa Changkija, in her short speech stated that the first newspaper in Nagaland was introduced way back in the year 1932 with first being the vernaculars and that the media’s presence today is due to the efforts of those pioneers who started the newspapers back then.
Stating that journalist (s) will come and go and the same being applicable with the newspapers, television channels, and other media platforms, Changkija maintained that technology has changed and evolved significantly and would continue to do so, however, the institution of the media-The Fourth Estate, would endure.
She said that in any democracy, there are four key pillars: the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and the fourth estate—the media, these, she explained, form the foundation of a democracy, and she emphasised that democracy will not endure unless it is actively guarded, fought for, nurtured, and strengthened.
Monalisa advised not to get sidetracked by the number of newspapers, television channels, YouTube, TikTok, or other platforms as according to her, the core issue is protecting the institution of the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and the fourth estate.
Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, Tinojongshi Chang, who also spoke on the occasion, stated that media cooperation and coverage have played a crucial role in bringing important messages to the grassroots, thereby enlightening the people of the state and the nation.
Acknowledging the pioneers, he said without their efforts, the day would not have been possible.
He also noted the need to focus on developmental activities and highlight individuals who are making positive contributions.
On the occasion, a memorandum was presented to the Chief Minister through the NLA Speaker, highlighting the need for a permanent office for the club, the enhancement of operational subsidies for accredited journalists, the implementation of a pension scheme for accredited journalists, the increase in slots for accredited journalists, and the request to distinguish between journalists and social media influencers.
During the program, Longkumer handed over a letter to the president of DPC, confirming a temporary office for the club at Super Market in Dimapur.