Senior journalist Devulapalli Amar took charge as the Advisor for National Media and Inter-State Affairs for the Andhra Pradesh government in Vijayawada on Tuesday. Speaking to the media, Amar said that he will work towards disseminating information about the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government’s work, particularly the welfare programmes, across the nation.
With nearly 43 years of experience working as a journalist, Amar has worked with various Telugu news outlets, including Eenadu, Andhra Bhoomi and Andhra Prabha. A member of the Press Council of India, Amar said that he recently resigned from his position as President of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) in order to take up his new role with the state government.
Speaking about the role, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, senior YSRCP leader and Public Affairs Advisor to the state government, said that Amar’s role will be important in building the government’s image. “Devulapalli Amar is well acquainted with Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family. With his popularity and networks in the national media, his role will involve promoting the image of transparent governance in the state,” Ramakrishna Reddy said. Both Amar and Ramakrishna Reddy stressed that the job will only involve presenting the truth without distorting the government’s work or planting false news.
For the past few years, Amar has been associated with Sakshi TV, which is owned by CM Jagan. YS Bharati Reddy, Jagan’s wife, is the chairperson of Sakshi Publications and Sakshi TV. Since 2014, Amar hosted a show on the channel called The Fourth Estate, which made him a well-recognised face in the Telugu states.
In the past, Amar has also served as President of the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Press Academy, and Secretary-General of IJU before becoming its president. Recalling his role in the journalists’ trade union movement in the Telugu states throughout his career, Amar said that he will work with the state government towards addressing the concerns of journalists.