Bhubaneswar: Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy on Sunday underlined the pressing need for a globally harmonised policy governing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism to safeguard ethical values and maintain public confidence in news dissemination. She made the appeal while addressing the concluding session of the 9th National Media Conclave at the KIMS Auditorium, which witnessed participation from 42 media professionals and experts from different parts of the country.
Delivering her address at the valedictory function of the three-day conclave on ‘Media 5.0: Digital Communication’, Padhy said that although AI has the potential to strengthen journalistic processes, it cannot replace the critical role of human judgment. She stressed that credibility is fragile and must be protected through transparency, particularly when AI tools are involved in content creation. Reflecting on the rapidly evolving technological era, she observed that the merging of internet technologies and artificial intelligence is steadily blurring traditional boundaries across the global media ecosystem. She also paid tribute to the journalistic legacy of former Chief Minister Dr Harekrushna Mahtab.
The annual conclave, organised by the Institute of Media Studies (IMS), Utkal University, with support from KIIT and OCAC, focused on exploring the influence of Media 5.0 on contemporary knowledge systems and society.
Addressing the participants, FM University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Santosh Kumar Tripathy acknowledged the inevitability of AI in the modern world. He said society must adopt AI thoughtfully, drawing on its strengths while guarding against misuse, and emphasised that human intelligence must steer technological applications.
Media scholar Prof. Pradeep Mallik from Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, summarised the core insights of the conclave in his closing remarks. He noted that while technology has expanded access and democratised the media space, it should not dominate independent thinking. Highlighting concerns around datacracy and algorithm-driven narratives, he called for critical discernment to identify truth and ensure technology serves societal progress and national development. He added that AI must be utilised with responsibility for collective benefit and sustainable growth.
During the event, six research scholars received the Best Paper Presentation awards, while Rourkela Steel Plant was conferred the 9th NMC Award for Best Public Sector Organisation Implementing Public Relations. Dr Mihir Ranjan Patra, Associate Professor at Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, was honoured for successfully coordinating the first NMC Film Festival, where 12 films were showcased.
Experts including Prof. S. Arulchelvan from Anna University and Dr Ruchita Sujai Chowdhary from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University also shared their perspectives at the gathering. The conclave was inaugurated with welcome remarks by Chairman and IMS Director Prof. Upendra Padhi, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Assistant Professor and Organising Secretary Manoranjan Panda.
