“NEWS is reported as it happened. But today both the news and views are mixed together which ultimately distorts the reality and generates wrong impression among the readers,” said RSS Sahsarkaryavah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, while inaugurating the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Odia weekly Rastradeep.
Expressing concern over the agenda-driven news reporting that suits the political and corporate interest Shri Hosabale said it has become the real challenge for professionalism in Indian media. Rejecting the concept of paid news, the RSS leader said, people on the ground are getting confused and accepting things due to their ignorance. Saying that media should censure itself instead of Governmental control, he cited the case of Ombudsmen being appointed by publication houses as independent entities to address public objections. He said the erosion of values in media could lead the present and future generation in wrong direction.
He said even in the age of commercialisation there are individual journalists who have toiled hard to uphold professional ethics and very successfully brought to light huge corruption and other concerns despite physical and emotional threat.
Public awareness on various important issues among the readers is the prime responsibility of the media and media should concentrate on this, Shri Hosabale said.
“Media has a very important role to strengthen the democracy. For a stronger democracy, we need strong media. It is not only the responsibility of the journalists but also the society has a greater responsibility in this regard,” he said adding that to search and reveal truth is the dharma of journalists and every journalist should stick to it.
Editor of Odisha’s premier newspaper Samaja, Shri Gopal Mohapatra expressed concern over the decline in standard of news reporting and lack of initiative in media houses to enlighten masses and awaken their nationalist sprit. Expressing concern Shri Mohapatra said as his experience reveals, owner of media houses have become prime threat to professionalism in media. Political and corporate interest has become topmost priority for investors who look forward for their financial and political interest.
Among others editor of Rashtradeep Shri Jagabandhu Mishra, chairman of the publication Dr Ragunath Mohapatra and secretary Prof Dinesh Prashad Patnaik were also present on the occasion.
