PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
PANAJI, GOA

Report on National Workshop for Media and Communication Professionals on

Reporting on Measles dt.16-17 December 2022
UNICEF recently organized a two day National Workshop for Media and
Communication professionals on Reporting on Measles in view of the recent
outbreak of Measles. UNICEF focused on Urdu Media since there is big hesitancy
in some of the communities with vaccination.

As nominated by the regional office, undersigned attended the workshop. I would

like to share a note on the workshop.

Sessions
Alka Gupta, Communication Specialist, UNICEF India in her welcome address
briefed about the agenda of the workshop. She stressed on the importance of the
role of media and balanced reporting.

Dr Ashish Chauhan, Health Specialist, UNICEF India made a detailed

presentation on ‘Missed/Dropped Out Children and Measles’ and answered the
queries raised by media professionals. Dr Chauhan, said that Covid-19 pandemic
hit badly for the immunization programme of kids. Also, he pointed out the
hesitancy of immunization in some parts of the country. (Link of PPT)

Dr Veena Dhawan, Additional Commissioner (Immunization), MoHFW joined

virtually from Delhi on the topic ‘Update on Measles & Rubella Campaign’. She
apprised the participants about the symptoms and vaccine. She appealed to the
Media to engage with local communities on the vaccine and come out of vaccine
hesitancy. She appreciated the role of the media during covid-19 pandemic.

Ms. Smita Vats Sharma, Additional Director General, Western Region, Press
Information Bureau, in her presentation, appealed that the media can access the
PIB website and various social media platforms of the Bureau, especially PIB
Fact-check, for authentic information and to counter misinformation.
This point from PIB, s ppt, discussed at length by every speaker in the sessions
afterwards. All experts and faculties appealed to the media to report facts and
avoid sensation on health issues.

Dr S Shukla, Director Immunization, NHM, Government of Madhya Pradesh,

through his poem appeals to spread positivism on the vaccination. The media is
the most powerful tool to set the narratives, he said. He appealed to the media to
spread the word about measles and all the vaccines under the Universal
Immunization Programme.

Dr Arun Kumar Maruti Gaikwad, AHO, Expanded Programme on Immunization,

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation was present on the occasion. He appealed
to citizens to attend vaccination programmes at designated government centers.

Experts from Media

Pankaj Pachauri, Founder and Editor, GoNews spoke on ‘CAS: Fact Check,
Misinformation and Disinformation’. And Sanjay Abhigyan, Former Editor, Amar
Ujala, Dehradun ‘CAS: Media Rating Tools’. Both have been highlighted to curb
negative reporting and focus on facts and figures. Reporting on health is very
sensitive.

Takeaways
The workshop is very similar in pattern to our ‘Vartalaap’. One thing we may add
to ‘vartalaap’ is that we may involve media professionals by engaging with the
activities like extempore reporting giving subject on the spot or Analysis of the
news which has been published, but has a negative impact (or created some
sensation).

Certificate
UNICEF has awarded certificates to all participants, on behalf of team PIB I got
the opportunity to receive the certificate.

I like to express my sincere gratitude to the Smt. Monideepa Mukherjee Ma’am

Director General (WZ), Smt. Smita Vats Sharma Ma’am ADG (WR) and Smt
Jaydevi Ma’am for giving an opportunity to represent PIB.

Your Sincerely
Samarjit Thakur
Information Assistant

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Media Coverage of the workshop
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