Janashakti (Kannada weekly magazine) as part of the Janashakti Festival 2014 has organised a seminar on ‘Media and Social responsibility’ on August 17. Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member inaugurated the seminar. He said the media has a social responsibility as it is the primary source of information for people to make an informed choice. But the corporate-controlled media is being used for manufacturing public consent. He also released Janashakti Independence Day Special. Twelve outstanding people, who have contributed to the weekly as writers, reporters and in the circulation and management, were also felicitated at the day-long event. Referring to the attempts at evolving a regulatory mechanism for the media by TRAI, Press Council, I&B Ministry etc., Yechury said it is better for the media to evolve a self-regulation mechanism. He also questioned equating corporates and political parties, in the background of TRAI recommending barring both from owning media. In today’s context where media has failed to discharge its responsibility, he said importance of media like Janashakti increases manifold. He called upon the gathering to strengthen Janashakti and expand its activities in the media including the social media to reach out to people. Veteran progressive journalist and presently media adviser to chief minister, Dinesh Aminmattubegan, NAM Ismail, senior journalist, G N Nagaraj, CPI(M) leader, Naveen Soorinje, well-known young TV journalist who was jailed for exposing moral police attack at Mangalore Homestay, addressed the seminar. Response to the Janashakti Festival which was held for the first time was very encouraging. The hall in which it was held was overflowing with people. It also included songs on communal harmony and anti-caste folk song performances. It included a session of delegates from all districts who are part of larger ‘Janashakti Community’ contributing as writers, reporters and sales agents. The session discussed two reports that presented current achievements/shortcomings and plan for improving content and circulation of Janashakti (including its web version). The session set itself a target of trebling the circulation of paper in the next six months. It also resolved to make Janashakti Festival an annual gathering.