KOHIMA: President of Press Club of India (PCI), Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, while drawing from her long experience in journalism, said the profession has never been easy, but the challenges today are far more complex due to weakening financial models, corporate ownership, political interference and erosion of editorial independence. She warned that the line between journalism and public relations has increasingly blurred, weakening public trust and accountability.
The PCI president was speaking at the Kohima Press Club (KPC)’s 25th anniversary today with the theme ‘traversing 25 years of storytelling: Inspiring the future’ at the Capital Convention Center in Kohima.
Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, while delivering the keynote address in the event, lauded the club for marking its 25 years through meaningful engagement with journalists from neighbouring states, describing it as a timely and reflective exercise for the profession. She congratulated KPC members for organising the event seamlessly, noting that even with a small membership base, the club had demonstrated exceptional dedication and professionalism.
She expressed concern over recent laws and regulations, including the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, which she said have diluted journalistic exemptions and weakened the Right to Information (RTI) framework, thereby restricting access to information vital for public interest reporting.
Highlighting technology as both an opportunity and a threat, she said while digital platforms have expanded reach and speed, they have also disrupted jobs and created new vulnerabilities for journalists, especially those working in smaller towns who face legal pressure and institutional insecurity.
Calling for public participation in sustaining credible journalism, Pisharoty urged citizens to subscribe to and financially support independent media platforms. “Even a small monthly contribution can strengthen democracy and ensure journalism remains accountable only to the people,” she added.
As the president of the Press Club of India, she said her priorities include protecting journalists facing legal challenges, establishing legal support cells, organising training workshops on technology and digital security, and building a federation of elected press clubs across the country. She invited the Kohima Press Club to join the proposed national federation to strengthen collective advocacy for press freedom.
Pisharoty also highlighted the growing leadership of women in journalism in the Northeast, noting that the region has long broken gender barriers in newsrooms and press clubs. She acknowledged senior journalists such as Monalisa Changkija for their pioneering role and said the Northeast continues to set examples in inclusive media leadership.
She concluded by reiterating that only independent, credible journalism can safeguard democratic values and called on journalists and citizens alike to work together to protect press freedom.
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Meanwhile, the inaugural event was followed by the Northeast Media Conclave themed “Reimagining Truth: Northeast Journalism for a Changing World” which brought together leading journalists and media professionals from across the region to deliberate on the evolving challenges facing journalism in the digital age.
The first session focused on “Evolving Nature of Media: Ethics under Pressure and Strengthening Credibility in the Age of Misinformation”. Moderated by Medolenuo Ambrocia Loucü of the Kohima Press Club, the session featured speakers Monalisa Changkija (Nagaland), Pradip Phanjoubam (Manipur), Geetartha Pathak (Indian Journalists Union), Karma Paljor (Sikkim), and Raymond Kharmujai (Meghalaya), who highlighted the need for ethical journalism and public trust amid the rise of misinformation.
The second session explored “Journalism as Peace Work: Navigating Divides, Building Bridges and Strengthening the Media Ecosystem in the Northeast”, Moderated by Dhiren A. Sadokpam (Manipur), the panel included Vanlalrema Vantawl (Mizoram), Utpal Parashar (Assam), Ranju Dodum (Arunachal Pradesh), and Debraj Deb (Tripura), who emphasized the role of media in fostering peace, dialogue, and regional cohesion.
The conclave served as a platform for cross border collaboration among journalists of the Northeast, reaffirming the media’s responsibility in promoting truth, accountability, and social harmony in a rapidly changing information landscape.