The independence of media and freedom of speech are sacrosanct, just like public interest, patriotism, national security and the right to privacy, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran has said.
He was speaking at the launch of City Express, a weekly supplement being brought out by The New Indian Express dedicated exclusively to covering issues that affect city residents, by handing over the first copy to historian M G S Narayanan at a function held at Hotel Taj Gateway here on Friday.
“A journalist should be a proponent of truth and must treat all his subjects as human beings. He must be able to report without fear or favour and must be accountable to the public,” he said.
The minister added that he was quite optimistic that the City Express will continue to exhibit the great tradition of fearlessness and fairness in journalism and it can give a constructive contribution to the socio-economic development of Kozhikode.
Social Welfare Minister M K Muneer, who was the chief guest at the event, said that newspapers will carve out their own niche despite the emergence of digital media and social networking sites.
“There are now advanced technologies that allow us to carry lakhs of books in an electronic device but none of them can replace the joy of waking up in the morning and browsing through newspapers,” he said.
The luminaries in attendance included Kozhikode MP M K Raghavan, District Collector K V Mohan Kumar, BJP state president V Muraleedharan, district Congress committee president K C Abu, city policecommissioner G Sparjan Kumar, Corporation opposition leader M T Padma, Malabar Chamber of Commerce president Alok Kumar Saboo, Malabar Rail Users Federation secretary C E Chakkunni, director Suveeran, scriptwriter Deedi Damodaran, writer Hameed Chennamangaloor, former Kerala cricketer Sunil Oasis and football coach K P Sethudmadhavan. Express Publications vice-president (Sales) Lakshmi B Menon welcomed the gathering while Vinod Mathew Jacob, Resident Editor, Kerala, introduced the City Express.
Vignesh Kumar J, vice-president (Marketing), proposed a vote of thanks. P Suresh Kumar, Assistant General Manager, Kerala, honoured the guests.