NEW DELHI : Underlining that credibility was the media’s currency, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today cautioned journalists against working with prejudice and indulging in witch-hunt in the name of investigative journalism, and also called for mature handling of the social media.
Dr Singh was speaking after inaugurating the National Media Centre here along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Dr Singh said journalists have a very special responsibility to assess, tackle and overcome the challenges that two decades of socio-economic change had brought about, and they had to work in an atmosphere conducive to free enquiry and quest for answers.
But, the Prime Minister said, “A spirit of inquiry must not morph into a campaign of calumny. A witch-hunt is no substitute for investigative journalism. And personal prejudices must not replace the public good.”
He also sought to remind journalists of their responsibility for social harmony and public order.
He called for mature and wise handling of the new media “to avoid the tragedy last year that befell many innocent souls who became victims of an online propaganda campaign and were then driven across the country to save their lives in their home states. ”
The Prime Minister said the exponential growth in India’s media sector began during the decade of the 90s when the economic reforms started, and the media, not coincidentally, were among the principal beneficiaries of it.
“A virtuous cycle came about in which the increased reach of media, both print and electronic, opened up ever newer markets, which benefited producers and consumers alike. In fact, I would like to think that the phenomenon of India as a world power in cricket has something to do with the fact that our electronic media are able to create and unite a huge block of consumers, reaching which is the dream of many marketing professionals,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the pace of these changes after economic reforms had been so rapid that the documentation of its impact on the media had been somewhat inadequate. Technological advancements like the internet, telecom revolution, low cost broadcasting, social media and cheaper publishing facilities that exist today were inconceivable two decades ago.
He also said that journalism could not be divorced from the business of which it was a part.
“The responsibilities of a media organisation are not limited to the viewers and readers alone. The companies also have an obligation to their investors and shareholders. The tussle between bottom-lines and headlines is a fact of life for them. But
this should not result in a situation where media organisations lose sight of their primary directive, which is to hold up a mirror to society and help provide a corrective,” Dr Singh said. (AGENCIES)
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