Apathy to private sector media by Andaman Nicobar Administration resented

Port Blair, Aug 20: Despite repeated pleas by the regional print media to treat all media equally, the UT administration continues to ignore private sector media. Since long the private sector print media in the Andaman & Nicobar Island has been complaining about prejudice and have raised the issue at various official forums, but no steps have been initiated to treat private sector print media at par with official media. Be it the matter of release of government advertisements or press releases on important subjects of the administration, it is the official media which has been the preferred choice of the administration. The Covid-19 crisis has totally exposed the negative attitude of the administration against the regional print media here. While private sector media are given only limited government advertisements, the official media is given two full page advertisements on a daily basis. Same attitude is reflected in the release of press statement on important topics of the administration. During the pandemic the District Administration (SA) issued any press release on Covid-19 related issues to the official media only.
Private media had to manage the getter covid -19 related news and official releases from their own sources. The official release regarding extension of lockdown was issued only to the government media and private media to obtain the news from their sources. It may be recalled that when the Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi launched through video conferencing the submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Chennai and Port Blair recently, invitations were given to only official media and print media were not invited. A day after the event, the administration issued a press release about the launch ceremony. The non official media from the Island reminded the UT administration that Press Council of India has clearly directed the Government to treat all media equally particularly in the matter of issuance of press releases and advertisement.