Political parties, business groups promoting their vested interests by starting newspapers: VP
New Delhi, Nov 16: By starting their own newspapers, political parties and business groups are promoting their vested interests and compromising the values of journalism, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday.
Highlighting the perils of fake news, he said may be it is time for media bodies to come up with a code of conduct for journalists.
Naidu was speaking at an event organised by the Press Council of India to observe the National Press Day and confer National Awards for Excellence in Journalism.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar also attended the event.
With business groups and even political parties setting up newspapers and TV channels to further their interests, the core values of journalism are getting eroded, the vice president said.
He stressed that if a newspaper is run by a political party, it should clearly mention so.
"Political parties and politicians started their own newspapers. They are called newspapers but they should be (called) newsletters.
"That is an undesirable trend that has crept into our system. To protect and promote your business interest, to paint your rivals in a negative manner, you are using it (media)," he said.
Naidu also urged journalists to exercise caution in the time of sensationalism.
"Sensationalism has become order of the day, sensational news means senseless news," he said.
The cardinal principle of journalism is to present fair, objective, accurate and balanced information to the readers and viewers without journalists assuming the role of gatekeepers, he said.
Instead of giving expression to the popular feeling, some newspapers these days are giving expression to coloured and partisan views, he added.
Naidu said times have changed in such a way that one has to now read a minimum of four to five major newspapers to get a complete sense of the current developments.
"Same is the case with the news channels. Earlier, that was not the case," he remarked.
Stressing on the need to maintain objectivity, fairness and accuracy, the vice president said neutrality and sanctity of newsrooms should be upheld at all times.
"This has become all the more critical in the present times after the advent of the 'fake news' phenomenon and the huge impact social media is creating.
"With the electronic and social media providing news by the minute with alerts and flashes on smartphones, journalists will have to exercise greater caution and guard against 'fake news', disinformation and misinformation," he said.
Sensationalism, biased coverage and paid news have become the modern-day afflictions of the media, he said.
Naidu called on journalists to guard against fake news and narratives "as they can be used by vested interests to create dissensions and divisions in our pluralistic society".
"May be the time has come for media bodies to come out with a code of conduct for journalists," he said.
Javadekar said fake news is a bigger crisis than paid news.
"This is the day for the press to understand its freedom as well as its responsibility. Today there is a crisis of fake news more than paid news," he said.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
