CALL TO THE PRESS: Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat at the first national convention of Indian Media Centre in Hyderabad on Sunday. Also seen (from left) are Editor-in-Chief, Pioneer, Chandan Mitra, Director, IMC, Shyam Khosla and Governor Rame shwar Thakur. — PHOTO: SATISH. H.

HYDERABAD: The need to evolve a self-imposed code of ethics for the media to report truthfully and without any bias was underscored by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat here on Sunday.

Only a credible media report had the potential to win the confidence of people. Times were changing fast and the media needed to prepare a road map, carving out its role in the changed scenario and be able to mirror the wider, more fundamental concerns facing the nation, he told a gathering of media professionals, after inaugurating the first national convention of Indian Media Centre.

The media, Mr. Shekhawat said, could extend a hand in powerful support to the task of improving governance and generate people's will to make any public programme like universal literacy, population stabilisation, building a strong secular web, protection of environment and heritage conservation a success.

Key issues of governance that needed sustained focussed media attention included making governance in democracy inclusive of managing welfare of the poor. Other issues included rural development and rejuvenating agriculture, electoral reforms and combating the malice of corruption, the Vice-President said.

Powerful role

Governor Rameshwar Thakur said the media had a powerful role to play in democracy.

"An informed public opinion is needed and that is what the media can mould," he said.

Minister for Lift Irrigation M. Mareppa said media needed to play a greater role to solve societal problems.

Chandan Mitra, MP and Editor-in-Chief, Pioneer, and chairman-elect, Indian Media Centre, said that Indian Media Centre was an organisation of media professionals striving to equip journalists and others in the profession to combat challenges. The agenda was primarily to restore values in the profession.

`Initiative of seniors'

Shyam Khosla, Director, IMC said the IMC was a initiative of a few concerned seniors in the profession who thought of giving something back to a profession and society that had nurtured them for decades.

Others present included G.B.K. Rao, Chairman, Pragati Resorts. Earlier, P. Vijaya Babu, IMC's Andhra Pradesh Chapter convenor welcomed the gathering.

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