HYDERABAD: Sections of the media have become mouthpieces of their proprietors for furthering their business interests and carrying on campaign against their perceived opponents, Chief Minister K Rosaiah has said.
Speaking on `Changing face of Indian media’ organised by the Press Council of India (PCI) here today to mark the National Press Day, the chief minister said: “A dangerous tendency that has been gaining ground is `paid coverage’, especially during elections. Sections of the media guilty of such practices are undermining democracy either wittingly or unwittingly.’’ Rosaiah said that there were laws to protect media freedom. Unfortunately, there were no laws to protect people from media freedom, he remarked and appealed to the PCI to arrest media aberrations since any government intervention in media freedom would be a remedy worse than the disease. His government did not believe in gagging the media, however unpalatable its reports might be on some occasions, he said.
Press Council of India Chairman Justice GN Ray, in his key-note address, said that today’s newspapers, barring a few, were being run with an aim to derive profits like commercial enterprises. Expressing concern over `paid news coverage’, he said it reflected the the kind of state media was in. Too often, the media has news contents and articles which suited corporate houses and business community, he said and expressed sorrow over the media indulging in large-scale disinformation and tainted communication with an eye on profits. He disapproved of media houses heading towards monopoly which he said was detrimental to democracy.
Ray said newspapers often covertly lobbied for the interests of corporate houses in return for advertisements.
“The problems, concerns and the interests of the weaker segment of the society are inappropriately projected and serious national issues are not addressed properly,’’ Ray said. Information Minister J Geeta Reddy wanted the media delinked from the clutches of business and promoted as a watchdog of democratic institutions.
Andra Pradesh Press Academy Chairman Devulapal li Amar thanked the PCI for organising the seminar in Hyderabad. PCI member K Srinivasa Reddy, PCI secretary Vibha Bhargava and Information & Public Relations Commissioner C Parthasarathy were present.
Several participants in the session on `Societal impact on content changes’ felt that media should play a watchdog role. PCI member K Srinivasa Reddy wanted a fresh media commission in the country. MLC K Nageswar wanted the media to focus more on serious issues. “The news which creates the interest of the public need not be a public interest one,’’ he said. Journalists Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, S Nagesh Kumar, Kingshuk Nag, A Suresh Kumar, Sailesh Reddy and NALSAR University professor M Sridhar also participated in the session.