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Sikhs Need Their
Own Quality Media, agree speakers
Amritsar Times Media Group launches World Sikh News in
Dallas
Harjit Singh
Dhesi & Rana Iqbal
 DALLAS:
Displaying an extra-ordinary sense of purpose and working towards
convergence of energies and resources in building towards an
international level quality Sikh media, a large number of local
community representatives, Dallas area Punjabi media corps and
managers of gurughars hailed the initiatives by Amritsar Times Media
group and welcomed ever expanding reach of World Sikh News.
A number of
speakers at an interaction between the Media Group representatives
and local leaders focused on the efforts being made by small
newspapers, radio stations and TV channels to apprise the Sikhs in
particular and Punjabis in general about their community affairs and
other developments in the world but agreed that a much better
quality media was required to propagate the rich cultural heritage
and defend the onslaught on religion.
The occasion
also saw the release of the World Sikh News edition from Dallas.
Many had
valuable suggestions for the Amritsar Times and World Sikh News
while there was no end to speakers hailing the contribution of the
Media Group in setting new bench marks for not just reportage but
leading to an engaged battle of ideas.
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There was a keen awareness of the fact that wide sections of the
Indian media corps played a prominent role in spoiling and
distorting the image of the Sikhs and none of this happened
inadvertently but was rather part of a well thought out
strategy.
There should be no doubt about the fact that a Quom which does
not have a quality media and a throbbing culture of mass
communication cannot present before the world its case with any
effectiveness. |
Jasjeet Singh,
Director, Amritsar Times and World Sikh News, group editor Daljit
Singh Sra and general manager Satnam Singh Khalsa enumerated the
achievements of the group so far, the problems faced by the
community media and the goals that the group envisaged.
Incidentally, World Sikh News already has editions in California and
New York.
A recorded
message from the editor of the World Sikh News, Prof Jagmohan Singh,
was played out for the gathering in which he pointed to the
challenges faced by the Sikh world in political, religious and
cultural domain and how to bring up these concerns before the world
community, there is need for a better endowed media.
Satnam Singh
Khalsa coordinated the meeting and helped understand the media's
take on various Sikh issues.
Jasjeet Singh
elaborated upon the policies, objectives and goals of the World Sikh
News and underlined the resource crunch and other management
concerns. He said his colleague and associate Harjot Singh Khalsa
and his own aim in taking up this venture was to create such a media
for the Sikh Quom that should be able to present the community
concerns in the correct perspective.
 He
said there was a keen awareness of the fact that wide sections of
the Indian media corps played a prominent role in spoiling and
distorting the image of the Sikhs and none of this happened
inadvertently but was rather part of a well thought out strategy.
He said there
should be no doubt about the fact that a Quom which does not have a
quality media and a throbbing culture of mass communication cannot
present before the world its case with any effectiveness.
Jasjeet Singh
said the aim behind the World Sikh News launch was the realization
that an English media was required by the new generation and also if
we need to be heard across the world. He called upon the gathering
and the larger fraternity for financial cooperation.
The group's
Dallas representative Harjit Singh Dhesi welcomed the Amritsar Times
Media Group and all those present. Amarjit Singh Dhillon, host of
radio 'Vasda Rahe Punjab' and known for his niche place in the
Dallas Punjabi media, also hailed the Amritsar Times and said the
group's journey so far has been an enviable one. He suggested that
coverage of cultural and literary issues, arts world and sports
needed to be regularized.
Among those who
participated in the over three-hour long interaction were Manjit
Singh Sandhu, secretary of Gurdwara Sahib Garland, Vicky Heer who
represented sports and cultural domain, DFW International Sports
Club's Gursharan Singh Bagli, Billu Benipal, Radio host Hardeep
Singh Gurna, Gurmel Singh Dhesi, Raghbir Singh Garcha, Sukhvinder
Singh Bajwa, Amrit Virk American Punjabi Press, Bobby Brar Sports
Club Texas, Gurinder Singh Guri Youth Wing, journalist and photo
artists Parminder Singh Sanghera, Ramneek Singh former president of
Gurdwara garland, Dr Gurdarshan Singh Brar Gurdwara Akaljot and
others.
Group editor
Daljit Singh Sra spoke about the religious, cultural, emotional and
tangible needs and apprehensions of an immigrant and said even the
Sikhs have anxieties about a connect with the birthplace. He said
often one lives bodily abroad but the emotional life is being lived
in Punjab.
Many wait for the Diwan Day at gurughar so that they can get the
community newspaper and connect to the land that harks out to them
at all times. So after the gurughars, the media plays a prominent
rle in achieving that connect.
.jpg) Daljit
Singh Sra said not only is the Media Group devoted to the making
Amritsar Times a complete family newspaper but is strongly on the
way to realize that goal. He held out the promise to concerned
readers like Amarjit Singh Dhillon and Vicky Heer and said such
interactions will only become more frequent as the Group covers new
ground.
He thanked
Harpal Singh Dhesi and Rana Iqbal who have been associated with the
group for over five years now.
Dallas Sikh
fraternity's well known personality and SYA's senior leader Surinder
Singh Gill described Amritsar Times as a true representative of the
community concerns and said it was everyone's duty to extend
cooperation and advertising support to the group.
Gursharan Singh
Bagli, Manjit Singh Sandhu, Hardeep Singh Gurna, Jasbir Singh Jassi
and DFW Sports Club presented a memento to the Amritsar Times team.
Gurdwara Singh Sabha Richardson Texas also presented a memento to
the Amritsar Times team.
Among others who
took out time for the interaction included Sikh leader Bhai Santokh
Singh's wife and children, Raghbir Singh Garcha, Bhupinder Singh
Sanghera and Sam Grewal. Bhai Jarnail Singh had come especially from
Houston. Jasjeet Singh and Satnam Singh Khalsa specially thanked S.
Baldev Singh Subzi Mandi who is known for rarely making an
appearance at social engagements. Daljit Singh Sra thanked all those
present for their enthusiastic response.
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Discussions at Gurdwara Akal Jot
DALLAS:
Amritsar Times and World Sikh News Director Jasjeet Singh, Group
editor Daljit Singh Sra and general manager Satnam Singh Khalsa
visited Gurdwara Akaljot Sahib during their tour of the Dallas.
They briefed
the sangat about the WSN venture. Gurughar's chief sewadar Dr
Gurdarshan Singh Brar welcomed the media team while Bibi Hardeep
Kaur Malhi gave some suggestions. Jasjeet Singh explained the
objectives of WSN and urged for cooperation. The gurughar
representatives also discussed the case related to gurughar,
while Daljit Singh Sra said divisive tendencies needed to be
kept in check. |
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9
December 2009
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