Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio with Press Club of India President Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty and KPC President Alice Yhoshü during the release of KPC 25th Anniversary Souvenir on January 20. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | January 20
The Kohima Press Club (KPC) on January 20 marked its silver jubilee with a reflective programme as members, well-wishers and guests came together to celebrate 25 years of collective storytelling, professional solidarity and public service.
Celebrated under the theme “Traversing 25 years of storytelling: Inspiring the future” at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, the event was graced by Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, President of the Press Club of India, as the guest of honour.
The programme marked not just a milestone in years, but also a reaffirmation of the KPC’s enduring commitment to journalism, service and the future of storytelling in the state.
Free, ethical press vital for democracy
In her presidential address, Alice Yhoshü, President of KPC, traced the roots of journalism in Nagaland back to the 1930s, noting that while journalist collectives existed much earlier, serious discussions on forming a Press Club began in the early 2000s.
Those early conversations, she recalled, took place through numerous informal meetings among a small group of like-minded journalists in Kohima.
Eventually, the KPC was founded on January 20, 2001, on a shared belief that a healthy democracy depends on a free, vibrant and ethically grounded press. Over the last 25 years, Yhoshü stated, the KPC has remained committed to the ideals of the Fourth Estate by promoting ethical journalism, professional fellowship, media education and dialogue on issues of public interest.
Reflecting on the journey, Yhoshü paid tribute to the pioneering members and visionary leaders who laid the foundation of the Club, and expressed hope that the silver jubilee celebration would itself become a meaningful part of this larger landscape and inspire journalists to look ahead.
Former KPC Vice President Vibou Seyie, in her address, said, “Today is a day to introspect and retrospect how far we have come, the arduous journey crossed and the milestones achieved.”
While emphasising the need to thank God for their lives and the opportunity to serve as the fourth estate, the foundation of democracy, she asserted that, despite changing times and technology, it must be fiercely safeguarded. She appreciated all those who chose to stay on despite challenges, for keeping the flag high and forging ahead.
Reminiscing about the past and the transition of journalism in the state to the present day, Seyie expressed optimism that the KPC would continue to be a welcoming space that rises above ‘isms’ and promotes healthy dialogue.
Journalism a rare privilege amid immense challenges
Working in the media, she noted, is a rare privilege and honour that gives each of “us” a platform and a voice, and has shaped journalists over the years. Sharing from her experience, Seyie said that being a journalist meant living “one day at a time” and working under immense stress.
“Journalism was a 24/7 job, which did not pay well,” she said, recalling a time when she earned a meagre Rs 1,400. Journalism, she noted, has built relationships and broken many too, “for our want to stand for what is right.”
Among the challenges journalists face, according to her, are working under duress, lack of manpower and adequate facilities, limited career perks, working in a close-knit society, veiled threats, the presence of multiple factions, and the constant need to find balance.
“I always felt that we lived two lives—one the glamorous one, rubbing shoulders with the who’s who of society, and the second, walking back home on foot, as hiring a taxi would cost a lot, in the dead of night,” she shared.
“And it is God’s grace that brought us through the highs and the lows, as we faced death up close. Now things may be different, perhaps better. But with advancement come new challenges,” she stated.
Seyie wished that journalists would work with renewed vision, commitment and strength to uphold the truth and practise ethical journalism at all costs.
Earlier, a minute of silence was observed in remembrance of journalists who have passed away over the years. The programme was followed by a jubilee feast.
PCI Chief Pisharoty flags strain on media freedom, seeks public support for independent press
Press Club of India (PCI) President Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty on Tuesday highlighted growing pressures on journalism in India, pointing to legal curbs, financial stress and newsroom challenges, while urging stronger public support for independent media.
Addressing the KPC’s silver jubilee celebration, she observed that while technology has transformed storytelling, the profession has become increasingly difficult.
She described the present phase as a downward spiral, attributing it largely to a faulty financial model and increasing political and corporate influence over media ownership.
Nevertheless, Pisharoty stressed that ‘Public interest is our only interest’ and journalists must draw their authority from the public and must hold governments accountable in the public interest. She also raised concern over the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and the dilution of the Right to Information Act, which among others, act as impediment to investigative journalism.
Highlighting rising cases against journalists and job insecurity, she appealed for public backing of independent media through readership, subscriptions and financial support.
Continue to be beacon of fearless, responsible journalism: CM Rio
Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday congratulated KPC on completing 25 years and urged it to continue as a beacon of fearless, fair and responsible journalism.
He also called for a renewed commitment to truth, ethics and sensitivity amid rapid technological change, misinformation and complex social realities.
Expressing hope for greater engagement between the government and the media fraternity, he said the media’s role in shaping informed public discourse and constructive development had become more important than ever.
Addressing the valedictory programme of the KPC’s silver jubilee celebrations, CM Rio said the Club since its founding in 2001, had grown into a strong and respected institution upholding ethical reporting, professional solidarity and democratic values.
The journey mirrors the evolution of journalism in Nagaland and underscores its role as the fourth estate, he added, while commending the KPC initiatives beyond routine reporting.
