Various Tribal Student Bodies on Friday banned all the valley-based media houses for constantly reporting fake news and one-sided story in the wake of Manipur violence since May 3, 2023.
While strongly condemning the media outlets for spreading false news, the students' organizations stated that such a ban has become a necessity given that valley-based media has become a propaganda machine for the state government.
A joint press statement issued on Friday by the Kuki Students’ Organization Churachandpur, Zomi Students’ Federation, Hmar Students’ Association and the Mizo Zirlai Pawl stated that following countless instances of selective reporting (to the detriment of the tribals of Manipur), the Student Leaders said they were compelled to rise their concerns regarding the actions of North East Live (NE-Live) in its reporting and broadcast of news. It has become apparent that the channel has been selectively omitting the voices and concerns of the tribals of Manipur, it alleged.
"Even more concerning is the fact that content that can be considered critical of the state government are being deliberately omitted," the statement alleged, and appealed to the news outlet to stay true to the spirit of journalism and to sincerely represent the voices of all and asunder.
On the other hand, the students’ bodies condemned in the strongest terms that the valley-Based media outlets, whether printed or electronic and in particular, The Sangai Express and ISTV for violation of Media Ethics and their propensity for spreading Fake News and one-sided news and suppressing the voices of the tribals.
Given continual cases of an alleged biased news, the tribal student leaders declared a ban on all valley-based media outlets. The leaders further appealed to the general public to co-operate in their ban on valley-based media and urged to report all cases of their presence in their lands.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
