Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated in Kozhikode that the media have lost their quality and integrity due to the entry of outlets with financial motives. It is difficult to compile statistics on the media houses in the country, given the numerical strength they now possess. Today, arms and weapons are no longer necessary to incite a riot; computers and social media are sufficient. Lies are circulated faster than the truth.
The former Union Minister was addressing a media seminar organised in connection with the golden jubilee celebrations of the Sangh-inspired Janmabhumi Malayalam daily on November 5 held at Kozhikode, where he was presenting a paper on the topic.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that the media is the beacon of democracy. The nation, democracy, and media are at a crossroads in our country, and democracy and media cannot be separated. The media has played a crucial role in safeguarding democracy in our country.
India's democracy has always been strengthened by its #media—a vital pillar in our Nation’s journey to a global beacon of #Democracy.
However, as we stand at the crossroads of rapid digital expansion, the issues of trusted content and its inverse misinformation are serious… pic.twitter.com/tRnQC5AQiW
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) November 5, 2024
The former Union Minister highlighted that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are complementary and mutually supportive. However, freedom of expression should not be misused to spread lies. Appropriate regulations are necessary to address the challenges posed by new digital developments. Those who misuse freedom of the press for criminal activities should face severe punishment. Technological advancements and the dominance of digital media have undermined the traditional media culture. Currently, over 90 crores of people rely on the internet, and by 2026, this number is expected to rise to 120 crore . Until two decades ago, readers had a clear understanding of the positions taken by media outlets and journalists, who were unafraid to express their views. But, these days they smuggle in their opinions.
S. Gurumoorthy, veteran writer, journalist, economist, and orator, inaugurated the seminar. He said that globalisation is the main reason for the decline faced by the media today. Globalisation paved the way for an excessive inflow of money into media. Journalism is the expression of thoughts based on a yajna (sacred offering). Money has eroded the soul of journalism. Now, the Union government does not impose restrictions on the media, as Pandit Nehru and Smt. Indira did during their regimes. Only anti-democratic leaders would act in such a manner. However, as globalisation has turned media into an easy means of amassing wealth, values have been disregarded completely. Only those media that stand for the propagation of ideals and ideologies truly enjoy freedom of expression.
At #Janmabhumi50: with Sri. @sgurumurthy ji & Sri. @RajeevRC_X ji pic.twitter.com/ECdJZlhC9r
— KVS Haridas 🇮🇳 (@keveeyes) November 5, 2024
Gurumoorthy said that the entire world is now discussing the undesirable influence of social media. The spread of unchecked news can even set the country ablaze. The government cannot legislate to solve this issue; instead, the media, society, and individuals must take responsibility. News is spread without verifying whether it is true or false, often driven by hidden agendas that influence public opinion unscientifically.
S. Gurumoorthy added that the history of the country’s media can be divided into four phases: pre-independence, post-independence, post-Emergency, and post-globalisation. Post-independence media had a clear goal: freedom from the British. Back then, media activities were a genuine struggle, with several newspapers launched across the country, becoming symbols of freedom of expression. Even the rulers could not control the press. The third phase was the Emergency in 1975, during which the entire media was subjected to strict censorship, with newspapers forced to endure severe government control. The Indian Express faced 300 cases for exposing the Bofors scandal, which occurred during Rajiv Gandhi’s regime. Following globalisation, the nexus between industry and politics grew stronger, and a flood of money entered the country like a tsunami. Media came under the sway of financial power, leading to corruption among media houses and journalists, resulting in the media’s severe decline. Media will be able to serve society and the nation effectively only if they are grounded in ideology. That is the significance of Janmabhumi.
The writer further stated that freedom of the press should be committed to democracy, as it is essential for empowering democratic values. However, a section of the media operates with vested interests, abandoning impartiality. The media should demonstrate greater responsibility and provide accurate and comprehensive news. The advent of television has greatly impacted print media, followed by social media, which has assumed the role of a primary news source for other media outlets. Print media has the ability to correct mistakes, but social media lacks any mechanism for such oversight, which is dangerous. Artificial intelligence has only worsened the situation. The government cannot legislate in this regard. He suggested that 5,000 similar seminars should be conducted, and people should be educated on discerning what is right from what is wrong.
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