Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 4
The Tribune on Saturday organised an interactive session in Jammu with the prominent personalities in the fields of education, health, trade, art and culture, defence, police and industry to seek their feedback and know their expectations from the newspaper.
The session, titled “Readers Forum”, was convened by the Editor, Rajesh Ramachandran, and Senior Resident Editor, J&K, Arun Joshi.
The prominent speakers, who happen to be the regular readers of the newspaper, while appreciating the recently made changes in the newspaper, said the credibility and authenticity of news had remained the hallmark of The Tribune over the years.
“The Tribune has always remained fearless, unbiased, fair and responsible to people, making it a perfect newspaper. It has always empowered the people through dissemination of real and transparent information, which is the main strength of the newspaper. It is a concise newspaper, which gives a bird’s-eye view about region, national and international news,” they said, while appreciating the newspaper for giving no space to “sensationalism” and “yellow journalism”.
The speakers were of the opinion that the newspaper should give more coverage to social issues like unemployment and other youth-oriented issues as they (youth) are main segment of readers in the present times.
There was a need to give wide coverage to regional news stories by starting different pullouts on various aspects of J&K, besides adding another additional page in the J&K edition to increase local coverage, they suggested.
Former Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, Dr Ashok Bhan, in his remarks, said various industrious personalities, including former Governor of J&K NN Vohra and former DGP Gurbachan Jagat, who had a long association with J&K, were part of the newspaper which had always treaded on the path of fearless and fair journalism.
The speakers from trade and industry were of the opinion that The Tribune has an important role to play in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
“We are in a transformation stage as J&K has now become a UT. We expect huge investment from outside the region, particularly Punjab and Haryana. The Tribune, having very large audience in the northern region, can play a bigger role by presenting a positive image of J&K because the people of region greatly rely on the news stories appearing in this newspaper,” Neeraj Anand, president, Chamber of Traders Federation, said.
In her remarks, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar, Director, Information, J&K, while lauding the newspaper for its authenticity and regional coverage, suggested for improving online edition of the newspaper. “Nowadays youngsters are quite tech savvy and they prefer to read news with just a single click on their mobile Internet. I suggest The Tribune can further improve online edition to make it more reader-friendly. There is also need to increase one more page for Jammu and Kashmir to give wide coverage to regional news stories,” she said.
The Vice-Chancellors of Jammu University (JU) and Central University of Jammu (CUJ) also emphasized on the need to focus on giving more space to education and youth-related issues.
“We should also focus on the issues of governance and success stories of institutions. Youth-oriented stories, especially space for career counselling, should get focus in the newspaper,” said Prof Ashok Aima, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Jammu.
Brig Brijesh Pandey, IW, Northern Command, while recalling his long association with The Tribune, said the aspirations of the youth constituted biggest issue of J&K UT and the newspaper could play an important role to create awareness in this regard.
Earlier, the Editor of The Tribune listened to the speakers attentively and responded to some of their queries. “Such interactions are a learning experience for us and give us an opportunity to know more about the expectations of readers,” Ramachandran said.
He assured the speakers that he would take care of regional aspirations on priority, especially the business-related stories, besides focus on youth-oriented issues.
The popularity of The Tribune has increased in J&K and the newspaper is giving good coverage to various aspects of the region. The newspaper is doing well as far as content is concerned. Dr Ashok Bhan, former DGP, J&K
I am a regular reader of The Tribune. The column of recently introduced education notes is a unique initiative. Education and youth-related issues should be given more space. Apart from this, more focus should be given on local news and happenings. Overall, editorial team in J&K is doing pretty good. Prof Manoj Kumar Dhar, Vice-chancellor, Jammu University
I have varied experience with The Tribune. It is a concise newspaper which gives bird’s-eye view about region, nation and international news. Young readers want to get concise information. The Tribune is among two major newspapers I generally read. Youngsters are tech savvy and my suggestion is to improve online edition and e-paper of the newspaper. There is also need to increase one more page for Jammu and Kashmir. Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar, Director, Information, J&K
I am a great fan of The Tribune, especially opinion pages. There is no sensationalism and information is presented in a clear and lucid way. We want more focus on issues of pensioners and senior citizens. I suggest that local writers should be promoted. KB Jandyal, former Director, Information, J&K
I have been posted in the conflict zone for seven years. Aesthetic of newspaper is terrific. Data and information is always perfect with stories. However, the Army-related news stories should be given more space. Aspirations of youth constitute biggest issue of J&K UT. The Tribune needs to create awareness among them. The front page should have one story from J&K to get regional newspaper feel. Brig Brijesh Pandey, BGS, IW, Northern Command
Need more regional focus, primarily on issues of governance and success stories of institutions. The Tribune has maintained its independence. Youth-oriented stories, especially space for career counselling, should get focus. Overall content is focusing on all the aspects of J&K. Prof Ashok Aima, Vice-chancellor, Central University of Jammu
I have been a regular reader of the newspaper since I had spent several years in Chandigarh. My only suggestion is that more coverage should be given to health-related issue. I have been organising several medical camps to create awareness about cardio-vascular diseases but little space is given to them. Dr Sushil Sharma, Head of Department, Cardiology, GMC, Jammu
I have association with The Tribune for the last four decades and since it was launched in J&K, I have been following it daily. I would suggest more stress and space should be given to Jammu and its economy. Annil Suri, Noted Industrialist
Economy and business issues should get prominence in The Tribune. As J&K has now become a Union Territory (UT) and expect huge investment from outside the region, particularly Punjab and Haryana, J&K’s positive image should reflect in a positive manner at the national level as the people in the northern region greatly rely on the news stories appearing in The Tribune. The front page should carries at least one story from J&K. Neeraj Anand, President, Chamber of Traders Federation, Jammu
The newspaper should be more J&K-centric. I like the Sunday supplement and opinion pages. It’s important that focus should not be on political news only but on young achievers who are changing the society. Prof Deepshikha Kotwal, former Head of English Department, Jammu University
The Tribune is doing well and I am a keen reader of book reviews and Sunday reviews. I think culture, literature and art should get prominence. Local prominent writers should be provided platform to write on tourism, culture and literature. The newspaper, I think, should highlight the tourism of Jammu, which has been neglected over the years. That will also give the newspaper a regional touch. Prof Lalit Magotra, President, Dogri Sanstha, Jammu
Youth-oriented stories should be given more focus as the youth are major segment who read newspaper. Editorial team in J&K should give more stress to getting exclusive stories. Unemployment among the youth is a major issue. The Tribune could become a platform to create awareness about job opportunities. Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Anti-drug Campaigner and Chairman, Team Jammu
I think The Tribune has always remained unbiased and fair to different sections of the society. It does not believe in yellow journalism and credibility has been its hallmark over the years. The good thing is that you have dedicated sports correspondents and the newspaper should give space to the sports. Ranjit Kalra, Member, BCCI
