Government proposes to institute awards of excellence in journalism. This was disclosed by the Information and Broadcasting Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni while interacting with journalists on International press freedom day. She said an eminent jury will be set up for selection of journalists who perform their job in challenging circumstances. <br/><br/>Replying to a volley of questions from the journalists on the paid news, she said the Press Council of India is finalising its report on the issue and it will be further debated. <br/><br/>Mrs. Soni said an authority is also proposed to be set up to address the concerns of the broadcasting sector. <br/><br/>This includes the issues of spectrum, TRP and FDI. She said the Union cabinet has already approved the digitalisation of All India Radio and Doordarshan at an estimated cost of 1500 crore rupees and the process will continue to extend this facility to the private sector gradually. <br/><br/>The minister agreed with the suggestion of having a multi disciplinary course for journalists to give them better understanding of the government’s policies and perspectives. She said that Prasar Bharati is working on track and expressed confidence that it will be able to generate resources to meet 50 per cent of its needs. A GoM headed by the Home Minister Mr. P Chidambaram is looking into all issues relating to the Prasar Bharti. <br/><br/>Mrs. Soni also said that journalist’s welfare fund has been modified from April this year to provide ex gratia relief to journalists and their families. <br/><br/>The families having extreme hardship will get an amount of five lakh rupees and those journalists and families suffering from other ailments including cancer will get up to three lakh rupees.