Aizawl: The Mizoram Journalist Association (MJA), the umbrella body of all scribes in the state, held its general conference in Aizawl on Friday, marked by the election of a new executive body and a business session addressing the internal administration of the organisation.
The event was attended by state Finance Secretary Ramchuana as the chief guest.
Addressing the conference at the I&PR auditorium, Ramchuana urged the media fraternity to move beyond passive reporting and prioritize high-quality, investigative journalism in an era of digital misinformation.
He emphasized that the credibility of Mizoram’s press rests on the diligence of its journalists.
“In an age where information can be verified with a simple phone call or visit, journalists must be willing to step out and find the facts,” Ramchuana said.
“It is essential for the public to access reliable truth. To prevent the spread of misinformation, we must be proactive rather than hesitant,” he added.
The Secretary also discussed professional ethics, advising journalists to balance the public’s right to know with personal privacy, while cautioning against suppressing information of significant public interest to avoid offending influential figures.
Acknowledging the decline in traditional newspaper readership due to the rise of social media and television, Ramchuana argued that high-quality written content remains indispensable.
“While we see headlines on WhatsApp, deep-dive articles and essays by experts are still what give a publication its value. This shift is a challenge for writers, but a well-researched piece remains a precious commodity,” he said.
The association elected Vanlalrema Vantawl, editor of the leading Sunday paper and online portal Zalen, as president for the 2026–2028 term.
Joining him in the new executive committee are C. Lalhmachhuana (Editor, Youth Herald) as Vice President and Zohmingmawia (The Aizawl Post) as Treasurer.
Eleven other executive members were also elected.
The conference passed key resolutions concerning the financial and professional welfare of journalists.