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PRINT MEDIA: The advent of satellite
and cable T.Vs, together with introduction of more sophisticated
printing technology and computers have, in a way transformed Media in
Mizoram. Their impact is clearly visible in newspapers in terms of
contents as well as in terms of appearance. With competition on the
rise, the principle of 'survival of the fittest' trend has seemed to
set in particularly in the capital city. From the previous 40 or so
number of government approved newspapers, regular circulation of the
newspapers have come down to 26 in Aizawl, 9 in Lunglei and 7 in
Chhimtuipui districts only. The principal dailies in Aizawl are :- Mizo
Aw, Romei, Mizo Arsi, Dingdi, Newslink, Vanglaini,
Aizawl Post, Hnehtu, Highlander and Mizoram Post. Of these, Highlander, Mizoram Post and Newslink are
published in English. The state government has given press
accreditation to 77 journalists including press-photographers and T.V.
Cameramen. An interesting development, however, is the increase of news
magazines lately. News Magazines of sports, music etc. have come up
large numbers of about 35 or more in Aizawl.
ELECTRONIC MEDIA:
There have been rapid progress in the development of Electronic media
(Radio, T.V/Cable TVs) during the past 10 years. This is largely due to
growing media awareness among the general public.
RADIO:
Radio continues to be most extensive covering networks covering the
entire state. AIR Aizawl station started functioning as an auxiliary
station in May 1966 with frequency of 150 Watt Medium wave. In 1970 the
frequency was improved to 1 Kilowatt and then to 10 Kilowatts in 1975
and to the present frequency of 20 Kilowatts since 1979. Transmission
from short wave with a frequency of was started in 1992. Steps are
being taken to install FM Stereo Transmitter.A 6 KW FM Radio Station
was started in Lunglei in 1995. Soon, a captive earth station to uplink
news from Aizawl will be opened here. Two community Radio stations are
to be opened at Saiha and Champhai to cover interior places.
TELEVISION:
Doordarshan relayed the Asian Games 1982 from its first VLP Transmitter
installed in Aizawl Tuikhuahtlang. HPT telecast commenced in 1995 and
LTP telecast on 12.6.1995. Another HPT Relay Centre was opened at
Lunglei in 1995 and two VLPT centers were opened at Saiha and Champhai.
Of these, only Aizawl center telecast their local programme has
recently increased from one hour to two hours. Besides Doorsdarshan's
local programmes, people turn to Cable TV for entertainment and news.
About 29 Cable Operators are doing business in the urban and semi-urban
areas. The 'Sky Link' was the first to give Star TV programmes to
limited subscribers since 1991. The LPS and ZOZAM started their own
production centers in 1992 and 1994 respectively. These local
programmes have been instrumental in giving information in local local
language apart from being ready entertainment. LPS programmes have
viewers in most of the district headquarters. These local programmes
have proved very useful and effective for publicity and they a great
potential for educational purpose as well.
INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATION:
The directorate of Information and Public Relation is headed by a
Director, assisted that Directorate level by one Joint Director, three
Deputy Directors, one Public Relations Officer at Headquarters one
Editor, one Press Information Officer and at District level by one
Public Relations Officers and Assistant Public Relations Officers.
At
the directorate level, the department has six branches (a) Press
Relation Wing (b) Photo Division (c) Maintenance of Technical Equipment
(d) Publicity Wing Library Research Section and (e) Field of Publicity
Wing.
Press Relations Section: The press
relation section headed by a Deputy Director is reinforced by Public
Relations officers and Assistant Information Officers whose main job is
to feed the local newspapers and AIR with the latest developmental
programmes and various Government activities. This section is also
responsible for the feedback of the trend of opinion. It also conducts
for journalists both for locals and national papers within and outside
Mizoram to cover the events concerning Mizoram.
Photo
division: The Photo Divisions responsible for Photo of important events
and incidents taking place in Mizoram. It is also responsible for
documentation of the progress made under five Year Plan and the overall
developmental efforts of the Government of Mizoram. Till now the
Division is equipped to handled photography only most of the
documentaries required are taken of by the Film Division of the Central
Government. Publication Wing: The departmental is having three regular
publications from districts in the local language. Besides these
regular publications, the Department bring out publications from time
to time on the development programmes, achievement and family welfare
programmes of Government. It also publishes fortnightly magazines in
the local language highlighting development activities.
Field Publicity: The
Field Publicity units located at different district and Sub-Divisional
Headquarters manned by Assistant Public Relation Officers in the
villages. The District Officers designated as Public Relation Officers
in their respective areas responsible for the field publicity
activities. The units are organizing regular films shows, Public
meeting, debated and seminars on different aspects and the over-all
development efforts of the Government of Mizoram and also the
development subject such as family programmes and improved agriculture
methods.
Library, Research and Reference
Section: The main work of this section is to keep the compile the
chronology of the activities of the Government as well as major event
taking place in the state, for use in the future.
Information
center: There are three District Officers namely, Aizawl, Lunglei and
Chhimtuipui headed by Information and Public Relations Officer and
assisted by Assitant Public Relations officers, similarly, there are
six Sub-Divisional Offices viz. Champhai, Kolasib, Mamit, Tlabung,
Lawngtlai and Chawngte headed by Assistant Public Relations Officers.
There are also 14 Rural Information Centres headed by Cinema Operator.
The
Department launched Multi-Media Publicity Campaign at various
Sub-Divisional Headquarters on the programmes and achievements of the
Government. It also conducted Aizawl Darshan Tours for elderly people
of 10 constituencies who have not seen Aizawl for long period. A video
news cassette highlighting the Government of Mizoram achievements is
produced and shown to the public through TV networks.
The whole media operation is coordinated by the Directorate of I&PR, Government of Mizoram, Aizawl.
Press Information Bureau (PIB), Aizawl:
The
third Media Centre for the North East was inaugurated by Shri
F.Malsawma, Minister of Information on 28.2.2000 at Press Information
Bureau, Aizawl. The meeting was presided by Shri C.Lalrosanga,
Chairman, Inter Media Publicity Coordination Committee (IMPCC),
Mizoram. Besides the Chief Guest, other speakers included Shri Len.
L.Doungel IPS, Chairman, Central Government Employee's Welfare
Coordination Committee (CGEWCC), Shri D.R.Zirliana, President, Mizoram
Journalist Asociation (MJA), Dr C.Silvera former Union Minister etc.The
inaugural function was attended by members of the local media and
central government offices. Shri B.Narzary DPIO, PIB, Regional office,
Guwahati delivered welcome speech and Shri Mangjangam Touthang, AIO,
PIB, Aizawl gave vote of thanks.
PIB is the
nodal agency of the Central Government to disseminate information to
the print and the electronic media on its various policies, programmes,
initiatives and achievements. Functioning as an interface between the
Government and the Media, PIB provides feedback to Government with
People's reaction as reflected in the media.
At
present, PIB has a total of 41 offices all over the country. It
disseminates information through different formats such as Press
Releases, Features articles, Interviews, Press Conferences, Press Tours
and bulletin board services, etc. The Bureau has a home page on
internet and can be accessed on www.nic.in/India-image/PIB. Newspapers
can now directly download materials from the Bureau's bulletin board
including and use them in the daily issues of their newspapers.
The
Media Centre at Aizawl is the third Media Centre in the N orth East
after Guwahati and Shillong which has been provided by the Government
for the benefit of the local media here. Form now on, local media
friends can come and avail the facilities provided by PIB for use in
their professional work in the Media Centre. They can also get copies
of latest news downloaded from the internet free of cost. They can also
get other facilities like Reference books, Type machines, Press
conference Hall, Press Lounge in the Media Centre. Other Central
department located in the state of Mizoram can also use this Seminars
and Symposia. They can also use Slide Projector and overhead Projector
free of cost during their seminars and workshops organised in the Media
center. In fact, this Media Centre will be like National Press
Conference Hall set up in PIB, New Delhi with facilities like Press
Conference Hall, Press Lounge, reference Library, Type Machine, local
telephone, etc. which can be used by media and other Central Government.
PIB, Government of India, Aizawl set up in June 7, 1984. Some highlighted of PIB Aizawl 1996 - 2000 are :-
Conducted
Press Tour to visit important social welfare development programmes
especially Aganwadi Centres and different development projects
implemented under Rural Development Deparment, Government of Mizoram.
The places visited are under Ngopa, Khawbung, Khawzawl, Champhai and
Aizawl areas. The Press Tour was conducted during March 5 - 13, 1997.
Ten Journalist including AIO, PIB, Aizawl visited the said places.
Conducted Press tour to Mumbai and Pune during November 30 - 10th December, 1997. Seven Journalists were in the Press Team.
Mizoram
Journalists and Economics Writers regularly attended Economics Editors
Conference at New Delhi under sponsorship of PIB. Dr Lianzela and Shri
Lalrinthanga attended this conference. In 1997, during 10-12 September,
the following Journalists attended Shri Robert Lalchhuana (Romei) and
Shri D.R.Zirliana (Mizo Aw) and Shri K.Sapdanga (Vanglaini). A Press
Tour to Udaipur, Rajasthan was arranged for these Journalists during
September 13 -16, 1997. In 1999, November 17 -20, Dr Vanlalchhawna,
Shri Lalsawta and Shri C.Lalrambuatsaiha attended the said Econmic
Editors Conference. In 2000, two Editors namely, H.Tawna Langel,
Editor, "Zokhua Daily' and A.Zotinkhuma Editor 'Thubenglut' monthly are
attending The Economic Editors Conference from October 16 - 18, 2000 at
National Press Centre, PIB, New Delhi. Shri Zonunsanga Khiangte, Editor
'Lenlaini' daily and Manjangam Touthang, AIO, PIB Aizawl attended the
2nd Editors Conference in Social Sectors issues - 2000 during 6-8,
April 2000 at Kanisha Hotel, New Delhi. This is the first time
representatives from Mizoram were attending this Conference.
PIB,
Aizawl also arranged Video Conferencing for three times with the local
Media representatives providing and interaction opportunity with other
parts of with other parts of India during the last Parliamentary
election.
PIB, Aizawl regularly contributes
development feature stories, etc. The feature story based on the
Interview with Shri Darthuama Renthlei, the lone surviving freedom
fighter from Mizoram by AIO, PIB. Aizawl has been included in the book
entitled 'Freedom Fighter of India' published by the Publication
Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of
India. New Delhi.
PIB, Aizawl regularly
provides publicity materials to local press, govt. media and also
departments. This office is now equipped with internet facility, press
conference hall, library-cum-information center, a press lounge etc.
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