GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th April. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday stressed that a resilient and vibrant democracy cannot last without a free, unfettered and fearless press.
Suggesting that India needs a robust, independent and vibrant media to strengthen the roots of democracy, VP Naidu cautioned against the erosion of values in the media.
Calling for impartial and objective reporting, ‘News should not be mixed with views’, he stressed.
Addressing an assembly at the Press Club of Bangalore to mark the Club’s 50th anniversary year, Vice President Naidu observed that an unrestricted and impartial Press complements an independent judiciary when it comes to firming the constitutional rule of law.
Noting that in the past, journalism was considered an exercise in which news was sacrosanct, VP Naidu underscored the fact that good journalism hinges on unbiased and truthful coverage of events and in their credible transmission to the people.
Mentioning several legendary news editors of pasts like Khasa Subba Rau, Frank Moraes and Nikhil Chakravarty, Vice President Naidu said that they never tinted news with their judgement and always respected the Lakshman Rekha between news and opinion.
VP Naidu suggested that news professionals today should take motivation from journalism stalwarts who contributed massively during the freedom struggle and during the Emergency.
Stressing that news must not be tempered with views, VP Naidu advised media persons never to compromise on facts and to always present them without fear or favour.
Voicing concern over the precipitous decline in journalistic morals over the years, Naidu said that the recent rise of social media has only muddied the waters further.
“Today, we find news constantly fused with opinion. So much so that sometimes one tends to feel that neither newspapers nor television channels give an accurate picture of some events,” he added.
He recommended that the Parliament and the government look into the matter of fake news on social media and come up with an operative and reliable way to deal with fake news.
Drawing attention to prejudiced news presentation and agenda-driven coverage of events, the Vice President said that the practitioners of such journalism are doing a serious damage to their profession because authenticity and credibility form the cornerstone of journalism.
Articulating his concern over deteriorating standards of public discourse, VP Naidu wanted political parties to self-regulate themselves by adopting a code of conduct for their members in legislatures and in public life.
He advised public representatives to refrain from making personal attacks on their political adversaries.
He also called for a relook at Anti-Defection Law to address any inadequacies.
Emphasizing that members should debate, converse and resolve in a meaningful way in the legislatures, the Vice President said the media should highlight positive speeches in Parliament and legislatures instead of commotions.
He warned against sensationalizing news and giving undue attention to disruptors in the Parliament and legislatures.
P.C. Mohan, Member of Parliament, K. Sadashiv Shenoy, President, Press Club of Bangalore, H.V. Kiran, General Secretary, Press Club of Bangalore, Shyamprasad S, Vice President, Press Club of Bangalore, media professionals and other dignitaries were present.
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