Actor and MLA Siddhant Mahapatra calls for preserving pure Odia language in media, stressing accuracy, responsibility, and ethical journalism at a university media festival
OdishaPlus Bureau
On the second day of the media festival organized by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Rama Devi Women’s University, MLA and actor Siddhant Mahapatra voiced his concerns regarding the growing distortions in the Odia language and urged the media to utilize pure language with responsibility. As the chief guest at the “Media Antara” festival on Friday, he remarked that in the race for breaking news, accuracy is frequently sacrificed, despite the fact that audiences tend to accept whatever is broadcasted. He stressed the necessity for meticulous verification of information.
While sharing amusing stories from his acting career, he also recounted his experience with a fake Facebook account that was mistaken for his authentic one. Advocating for social responsibility, he pointed out that every incident has underlying factors that need to be addressed.
The head of the department, Dr. Ambika Sankar Mishra, extended a warm welcome to the guests, while Amit Mallick underscored the significance of professional skills and honest reporting over content driven by TRP ratings.
Professor Chandi Charan Rath, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, expressed concerns regarding environmental degradation and commended the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication for organizing the festival.
An awareness video titled Samaya, produced by the Girija Memorial Road Safety Foundation Trust, was unveiled. Trust Chairperson Amiya Bala Parida addressed the topic of road safety. Senior journalists Ramajiban Gochhayat and Debashis Samal were honored during the event.
Additionally, the winners of various competitions were recognized, and the event was conducted by students from the Journalism & Mass Communication Department, including Chinmayee Jena.