Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday presented the prestigious Manorama News Newsmaker Award 2024 to Minister of State for Tourism and acclaimed film actor Suresh Gopi at a ceremony in New Delhi.
In his address, the Vice-President highlighted the unique challenges of cinema and politics, praising Suresh Gopi for his outstanding success in both fields. He fondly recalled his recent visit to Fatima Mata College, Kollam — at the invitation of Mr Gopi, an alumnus of the college. He remarked that this gesture reflects the Minister’s enduring connection to his roots.
Mr Radhakrishnan emphasised the media’s essential role in highlighting positive developments in the nation to inspire the youth and stressed journalism’s responsibility in giving a voice to the voiceless.
He also highlighted the media’s crucial role in creating a drug-free society by spreading awareness and shaping responsible public discourse. The Vice-President further stated that in this age of artificial intelligence and deep fakes, it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate truth from fake news. He emphasised that the press and media must play a very responsible role in our democracy.
The Vice-President recalled Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar’s immortal words, “If a man speaks the truth with a pure heart, he stands higher than those who perform lifelong penance or give away billions in charity”. He urged the Press to follow Thiruvalluvar’s words of eternal wisdom.
Recognising the Manorama Group’s enduring legacy, Mr Radhakrishnan applauded its unwavering commitment to truth, language, culture, and its contributions to Malayalam literature and media. He commended Manorama News for being Kerala’s leading opinion-maker and a trusted voice, reflecting the people’s pulse over the years.