Press Release Summary = IMC Convention at Hyderabad on February 4-5, 2007
Press Release Body = Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, February 3, 2007 (InfoMailers.com) :: His Excellency Vice President of India, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, will inaugurate first national convention of the Indian Media Centre on Sunday, February 4, 2007 at 4.30 p.m. at Pragati Resorts. The inaugural ceremony will be followed by a meeting of IMC National Council that will discuss and adopt resolutions on the need to set up a Media Commission and a Media Council that will cover both print and electronic media. Resolutions on media education and on denial of freedom and attacks on journalists will also be discussed and adopted. About 250 delegates and observers from 15 states of the country are likely to participate.
2. Although countless institutions and trade unions are trying to protect and defend independence and freedom of media and improve its quality in their own ways, there is a compelling need to have an all-inclusive independent and powerful professional institution. Publishers, Editors, Senior Journalists, Media Educators, Public Relation Executives and concerned citizens need to be brought on a common platform to meet the challenges Indian media faces. Indian Media Centre is a humble attempt in that direction. It is an independent, non-profit institution dedicated to the highest standards in journalism - print, electronic and Internet. It was launched last year by a team of media professionals and concerned citizens in their quest for professional excellence. In February last year, Indian Media Centre in collaboration with Punjab Union of Journalists held a two-day Indo-Pak Media convention at Ludhiana. More than 20 journalists from Pakistani Punjab and about 200 from our Punjab participated. It discussed issues of mutual interest to media persons of the two countries.
3. Indian Media Centre will focus on five major concerns of Indian media fraternity viz: . Professionalism and ethics; . In-service training of media professionals, including those in marketing and public relations; . Improving and strengthening media education; . Protecting and defending independence and freedom of media; . Highlighting cases of denial of freedom to media persons and attacks on them anywhere in the country and abroad through international networking.
4. IMC has launched a quarterly magazine - MEDIA CRITIQUE - focused on media trends and analysis. It covers latest developments in Indian and international media to keep the media persons informed of developments and trends. The IMC Website - imconweb.com - being launched during the inaugural convention by the Vice President of India will endeavour to carry everything that is worth knowing as far as media is concerned. IMC will shortly launch an email alert service and a weekly newsletter to inform all concerned about denial of freedom and attacks on media persons in India and abroad. It will network with international outfits focused on protection of journalists and defence of their right to freedom of expression. IMC will organise workshops and in-depth discussions on media-related issues to make media more responsive to needs of the society and changing times. It seeks to work with Media Institutions and UGC to upgrade curricula for media students so as to equip potential journalist to meet challenges he or she will face in the profession.
5. Indian Media Centre has functional Chapters in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal, Orissa, Punjab and Rajasthan. Convenors have been appointed in several other states, including Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, J&K, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Membership of the IMC is by invitation. As of now, we have a select membership of more than 650 publishers, editors, senior media persons, media educators, public relations executives and concerned citizens. We propose to add another 500 and have functional centres in 15 states and union territories during the year 2007.