A consultation was held under the leadership of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, with the Education Department Secretary, Finance Department Secretary, and School Education Minister Rajkumar at the Secretariat, stating that changes need to be brought about in the education sector for students according to the times.
Journalists like us have expressed sorrow that advice to bring about changes in the news industry according to the times was not considered.
Furthermore, discussions have been held regarding the introduction of Artificial Intelligence and Climate Science subjects in government schools from the sixth to the twelfth grade. Educators in the education sector have truly welcomed this, considering it a commendable initiative.
Moreover, similarly, social welfare journalists and publications like ours have expressed their dismay as to why discussions have not been held regarding bringing about changes in the journalism sector in accordance with the times.
What is the reason for this? Are the officials in the news department responsible? Even though the government has changed, the scenes in the news department have not changed yet. Officials who are loyal to the DMK are still there in the news department. Reporters from corporate newspapers and television channels are flocking around them.
There was a person there, the Chief Secretariat’s News and Public Relations Department Officer, Senthamizh Selvan, and it is reported that he was promoted and sent out. Besides, the Journalists Welfare Board functioned as a party of the DMK government. All this is the cruelty of time. Furthermore,
These people came to work in the journalism field without studying it. What kind of advice can be expected from such people when consulted? Furthermore, they acted as agents for corporate companies during the DMK regime.
Not only that, but Senthamizh Selvan called online journalism social media. What knowledge does he have about the journalism field? Besides, the central government has taken control of the circulation of online journalism. Information suggests that laws have now been changed for this purpose.
But many of them told me themselves that online journalism is social media. This is the case with Ashwin, the current PRO of Tiruvallur district. Similarly, what is the intention of speaking without knowing the meaning of social media and online journalism?
That is, all these people do not want social welfare magazines to come up. Corporate company magazines and television channels do not want them. Because they will come to compete with us. The government should not encourage them. Only then will all government concession advertisements be available to us. How selfish?
That is why such officials act as agents who encourage corporate companies. There is also a reason for that. What is it? 30% commission, besides that, if advertisements are bought separately in districts, 5% commission for the administrators and PROs of the respective newspapers.
Apart from this, they collect money by showing reporters at government events, that is, in every department. A Tahsildar in Tiruvallur told me himself. Sir, 50 people come as press.
However, not even four people actually publish news. The PRO alone collects fifty thousand. Similarly, I have heard that collections are made in municipal administration as well. It is in questioning newspapers like these, in social welfare magazines like ours, that these truths will come out.
All this expresses their irritation and anger. The stark reality is that these magazines are encroaching on their income. Therefore, they are of one mind that they should not offer concessions or advertisements to these magazines.
Not only that, unqualified newspapers and qualified newspapers are placed together, and they speak together like corporate company reporters. What we are asking for is to give concessions and advertisements to qualified newspapers. That is our struggle.
Furthermore, they are unaware of the changes brought about by the central government itself, which evaluates the quality of a magazine with 5 lakh visitors and subscribers on its website. That too has been published as news on our website. Only by reading all this will they understand even a little bit of the truth.
Furthermore, the Congress party’s outdated law from 50 years ago, the Circulation Act, continuing to operate with the same provisions today is a deceptive and fraudulent practice by the press, social welfare magazines, and the news industry.
Therefore, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Joseph Vijay, should hold a consultation meeting with qualified journalists like us, non-corporate journalists, departmental secretariat, senior officials, and ministers! This is the request from the People’s Power magazine and the Federation of Social Welfare Journalists.
