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New Delhi : Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Information& Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu on June 16, 2017, said here that in an era when television channels, newspapers and social media platforms were vying for garnering the highest rating points by dishing out sensational and often unsubstantiated news, All India Radio (AIR) still continues to be the first choice of majority of the population for authentic news not only within the country but also for Indians abroad who want to keep in touch with the happenings in their motherland.
The Government was committed to the total freedom of Press & Expression while at the same time disinformation was dangerous, Naidu said at the Akashwani Annual Awards ceremony. Highlighting the diversity of AIR, Naidu said that, in terms of number of languages and dialects of broadcast, All India Radio was the world’s largest public service radio broadcaster. At present, All India Radio broadcasts in 23 languages and 179 dialects, according to a PIB release.
Referring to the challenges in Radio Broadcast sector, Naidu said that the challenge for the content creator was manifold. It was important to make the content entertaining as well as utilitarian. The challenges before the technical think tank were also very daunting at a time when broadcast technology was changing every passing minute, he said.
‘Akashvani Annual Awards’ has been an annual feature since 1974 and it remains one of the most prestigious and old awards in the arena of Public Service Broadcasting in India, according to the PIB release.