Colombo, June 25 (Daily Mirror)- The Indian High Commission facilitated a two-week training programme on Media Management for Sri Lankan journalists and media professionals in Hyderabad, India together with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

The programme is hosted by the Dr. MCR HRD Institute from June 24, 2024 till July 6.

The programme, which has been sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, under the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, is being attended by 30 senior journalists, including the Media Advisor to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Media Secretaries to the Ministry of Public Administration, Central Province Governor and the Deputy Speaker, Parliament and others.

Dr. Shashank Goel, IAS, Director General of the Institute and Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana, who was the Chief Guest at the Inaugural function, said that media professionals play a pivotal role, serve as the voice of the people, facilitate informed decision making and promote transparency in governance.

“Journalism and media relations are not merely professions; they are indispensable pillars of the democratic societies”, Dr. Shashank Goel, IAS observed. 

Dr. Shashank Goel stated that the emergence of Social Media, with its amazing speed and unprecedented access to global audience, has transformed the media landscape, across the globe, and brought about a profound transformation in the world of media. 

“It is not just a shift; it is a revolution, driven by new tools and techniques. In addition, Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the news industry, from content creations to audience engagement,” he stated and added that in this rapidly evolving landscape, the role of journalists and media professionals is far more critical than ever and the importance of equipping the media professionals with the latest skills and knowledge is the need of the hour.