In race to be first,reporters fail to verify facts: Hooda

Hooda said communication plays a very vital role in democracy. “Positive communication can create unity and negative emotions can create divisions on basis of caste,creed and religion. The world is growing smaller due to globalisation and the media creates a link between the administrators and the public. However,journalism is no longer a mission,instead it has become just another commercial enterprise,” he said.

High Commissioner of Mauritius Mookshwur Choonee talked about the importance of public relations and stressed on optimum use of internet to disseminate information.

PRSI Advisor Ajit Pathak said: “There is a need to promote Brand India. The country is being viewed as the ‘destination next’ so there is an immediate need to present it in a good light.”

Addressing the media on the sidelines of the conference,Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the economy of the state was strong and measures had been taken to overcome the affect of world-wide economic meltdown.

Allaying fears that the state’s economy was in disarray,Hooda said the economic measures taken by the government are aimed at reducing expenditure and ensuring transparency. Recently,a decision was taken to reduce the prescribed rate for furnishing copies of documents under the Right to Information Act from Rs 10 to Rs 2 per page.