Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath assured journalists on Monday that he would raise their concerns with the Central and State governments and work towards a resolution.

Speaking during the celebrations of the 70th Formation Day of the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) in Vijayawada on Monday, August 17, Mr. Sivanath expressed concern over the declining value-based journalism these days. “There was a time when journalism meant scrutinising the government. Politicians would fear reading reports about themselves. But now, things have changed,” he said.

APUWJ general secretary K. Jayaraj highlighted the unresolved issues, including attacks on journalists, financial assistance of ₹25 lakh to families of journalists who died in attacks or accidents, comprehensive healthcare, restoration of railway concessions, housing and house sites, raising the retirement age from 58 to 65, and ₹10 lakh accident insurance for every journalist. The politicians assured the journalists of all support.

A seminar titled 'Journalism – Then and Now’ discussed the transformation of the media from print to electronic, digital and social media, along with journalistic values, credibility and professional challenges.

Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, who was attended the programme, stressed the need to maintain credibility Both the politicians expressed concern over spreading of misinformation.

APUWJ State president I.V. Subbarao, Indian Journalists Union (IJU) secretary general D. Somasundar and others attended the programme.