It took nearly two years of hard work, determination, and a shared belief in the power of local journalism — but the Raga Press Club is finally, officially part of the bigger family.
On Saturday, the Raga Press Club (RPC) formally affiliated itself with the Arunachal Press Club (APC), becoming its fifth district-level press club to earn that recognition in the state. The ceremony was held in Raga, the headquarters of Kamle district, and for the journalists gathered there, it wasn’t just a formality. It felt like a moment they had earned.
The RPC had been functioning for close to two years since a group of working journalists — driven by a need to have an organized, credible voice for the district — came together under the leadership of Biku Aka. The goal was straightforward: bring local journalists under one roof and push for journalism that is honest, responsible, and ethical. Getting affiliated with the APC was always the next natural step, and now it’s done.
APC President Amar Sangno was present at the occasion and made no bones about what’s expected from the club going forward. He congratulated the RPC but quickly turned to the weightier stuff. “We must always question ourselves on how to maintain ethical journalism without hurting the sentiments of society,” he said — words that carry particular meaning in a state where community ties run deep and journalism can shape public perception overnight.
Sangno also pointed out something that doesn’t get said enough: district-level journalism is harder, in many ways, than state-level reporting. Local journalists are often the only bridge between ordinary people, the administration, and the outside world. One wrong story, one sloppy report — and the damage can be real. He urged the Kamle district administration to route official information through the RPC to ensure it reaches the public accurately and efficiently.
APUWJ President Dodum Yangfo echoed a similar sentiment, calling on journalists to report the truth without fear — but also with sensitivity. Courage in journalism, he seemed to suggest, doesn’t mean recklessness.
Perhaps the most tangible promise of the day came from Kamle Deputy Commissioner JT Obi, who assured the RPC of a suitable plot of land for constructing a permanent press club building. That’s significant. A physical home for the club gives journalists a space, a legitimacy, and a long-term presence in the district. Obi also addressed the eight affiliated media houses, stressing the need for public-interest reporting and warning against misinformation and undue influence — a caution that, frankly, applies everywhere in the country right now.
RPC President Biku Aka reflected on the journey — the modest beginnings, the challenges of working in a district where journalism infrastructure was limited, and the slow but steady growth of the media landscape in Kamle. There was pride in his words, and rightly so.
What happened in Raga on Saturday may seem like a small administrative step. But in the bigger picture, it’s about local journalists getting the recognition, structure, and support they need to do their jobs well. Kamle district now has its own press club linked to the state’s apex media body. The stories that matter to people there will now have a stronger, more organized platform.
That’s not a small thing at all.
