GANGTOK, May 24: As Sikkim Express traversed the fourth milestone as the first English daily of Sikkim, the Ram Patro Memorial Award Committee today awarded two promising journalists of Sikkim. Bijoy Gurung, formerly a reporter for The Statesman and presently the UNI correspondent for Sikkim, was awarded the ‘Most promising journalist in Sikkim for the year 2006-07’ by Ram Patro Memorial Award Committee during a function here today. Nirmal Mangar, a reporter with Sikkim Express, was awarded the ‘Best working journalist in Sikkim Express for the year 2006-07’.
The award constituted annually by the Ram Patro Memorial Award Committee is a tribute to late Ram Patro, the founder Editor of Sikkim Express, for his contributions in the field of journalism in Sikkim, as well as an encouragement to the young journalists of the State to excel further in their careers.
Apart from recognising the talents of young journalists ever since its inception, the Ram Patro Memorial Award Committee took the initiative to sponsor the education of a 10 year old boy, Master Ashish Sunwar Mukhia, from this year on. Ashish is the son of MB Sunwar and Gauri Sunwar of Sichey Busty. He annual expenses on education that presently stands at Rs 15,000 will now on be borne by the Ram Patro Memorial Award Committee.
The award function today was attended by advisor to the Chief Minister, BB Gooroong as the chief guest, former MLA JB Pradhan as the guest of honour, President, the Press Club of Sikkim, CD Rai, Ms Mala Rana Patro, Publisher, Sikkim Express and well-known senior technocrat and architect, Kiran Rasaily. A large media fraternity was also present on the occasion.
In his address, Mr. Goorong accentuated on the need among today’s journalists to verify the authenticity of news and events before publishing any report and the media to take a pro-active stand. “It is very important to have a clear understanding of the vocation, and journalists especially should know how to report correctly,” he said.
Commenting on a few sensitised reports published in a local daily lately, Mr Gooroong also called for the Press Club to organise regular training sessions for reporters, particularly on legal and court reporting.
CD Rai, in his address, walked down the memory lane recounted the inception and early days of Sikkim Express and its evolution as the first daily of Sikkim. The guest of honour, JB Pradhan, called for truth-based journalism. “Journalists are not just eyes and mouth of the people but also the nose and ears of masses,” Mr. Pradhan said inviting media persons to report the news without fear and favour.
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