NEW DELHI, Feb 11: Union Communication Minister and Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha has called upon the media to avoid being judgemental and cautioned it not to hold a ‘Media-Trial’. Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Press Trust of India Employees’ Unions at Saturday, Mr Sinha said the role of media is very important as it is the fourth pillar of a democracy. Speaking on the issue of ‘Challenges before Media’, the Union Minister, however, cautioned the media not to be ‘judgemental’. He said now-a-days, several media organisations conduct a parallel trial of any person or organisation, which is not proper. Media has the role of informing and educating the people, but it has no role in passing a judgement against anyone, for which a strong judiciary is in place in the country.
He appreciated the role of the national news agencies PTI and UNI, who have a great role in the dissemination of information all across the globe. But the role the agencies are playing is to only present the bare facts before the people, he added. He said the news and views are two parts of any media and they should never be mixed. As when views are presented as news, they create confusion. He said the biggest challenge before the media is the ‘Neer-Ksheer Vivek’ (the wisdom to differentiate between the good and the bad).
Citing the example of ‘Narad’, the Communication Minister said that Narad is considered to be the first and ideal journalist as he travels across the universe and collects the information and disseminates the same at the right place very promptly. He asked the journalists to be fearless and do their reporting work fearlessly.
He also cited the example of Sanjay in Mahabharat and said that he was a fearless and impartial journalist as sitting at the palace of a cruel king like Dhritrashtra, he only told the truth to the blind king. He could have easily reported in a biased manner, but he never did the same.
Mr Sinha said the national agencies of news PTI and UNI have to be supported and protected at any cost as they are very important for a democratic country like India.
Newly-elected General Secretary of Federation of PTI Employees’ Union Balram Singh Dahiya and General Secretary of PTI Workers’ Union Delhi Sujata Mathur welcomed the Union Minister, who later inaugurated the AGM. (UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel