NewZNew (S A S Nagar) : The Punjab Governor, Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki, speaking in a seminar on Role of Media in Society here today said that Indian Media had grown along with the freedom struggle and continued to play a leading role in spreading awareness and mobilizing popular opinion. He said our vast varied and vibrant media is a national asset. The media is the eye, ear and tongue of a society through which a person, a community, a society a nation and the world sees, hears and speaks. Media has the capability to empower the common man by spreading awareness among people for an inclusive growth of the society, he added.

The Governor further said that no country can progress if only a section of population is doing well. He said all sections of the society should reap the benefits of progress and development. Therefore, the communication plays a significant role in bringing all people together.

He said the media have a great responsibility also to see that the news they present is accurate and serve the interest of the people. He said if the media conveys incorrect news that may harm the reputation of a person or a section of society. For a proper functioning of democracy it is essential that citizens are kept informed about news from various parts of the country and even abroad because only then can they form rational opinions.

Hence the media play an important role in a democracy and serve as an agency of the people together news for them. The influence, credibility and quality of our media is well recognized. Integrity and independence are two sides of the same coin and both must be equally important for our media and for every one of us. There should be recognition that the media is accountable to its readers and viewers at large and through them to the entire nation, he added. Industries and Commerce Ministers Punjab Mr. Madan Mohan Mittal also present in the seminar.