Prioritise truth over trends: Press Council of India chairperson Ranjana Desai
New Delhi, Nov 16 (PTI): Journalists should value accuracy more than speed and prioritise truth over trends, Press Council of India Chairperson Justice Ranjana Desai said on Sunday.
Addressing the National Press Day function here, Desai said that the press was facing several challenges and the most worrisome was the loss of press credibility.
"The arbitrary use of technology in mass communication has led to a growing spread of misinformation," she said, adding that the responsibility of journalists in such trying times has become more onerous.
"Their work does not end with reporting an event; it extends to verify facts, interpret them accurately and place them in perspective and not create news," Desai said at the function attended by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and PTI CEO Vijay Joshi, among others.
"Accuracy should be valued more than speed, and truth should be prioritised over trends," she said.
Desai said the Press Council of India has updated the Norms of Journalistic Conduct and called for greater care and responsibility in reporting.
She also urged the press to show restraint while writing on matters relating to religion or the armed forces, where even a minor inaccuracy can have serious consequences.
Desai said the Council also believed that financial independence was directly connected to upholding press credibility and has advised governments of states and Union territories to develop and implement group insurance schemes for journalists.
She urged journalists to remain alert and thoughtful to the increasing role of artificial intelligence in the field of journalism.
"Technology should help us find the truth, not twist or overshadow it. However advanced these tools may become, they can never replace the human mind – the judgment, conscience and sense of responsibility that guide every journalist to prevent the spread of misinformation," Desai said.
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Ready to face no-confidence motion, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Hassan (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the Congress government led by him was ready to face the no-confidence motion if moved by the opposition during the legislature session from December 8.
With Deputy CM D K Shivakumar by his side, he reiterated that they would both abide by the high command's decision on the leadership issue.
"Let them (opposition) bring in a no-confidence motion or adjournment motion or any other motion. We are ready to face it. Ours is an open book, transparent government. We are ready to face anything," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.
However, BJP state President B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, clarified that the party, along with the JD(S) has not discussed or decided anything so far regarding moving a no-confidence motion against the government.
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The winter session of the Karnataka legislature will begin in Belagavi, bordering Maharashtra, on December 8 and will go on till 19th of this month.
Not wanting to react to a question on the leadership issue, the CM said the Congress high command is very strong.
"D K Shivakumar and I will be committed to whatever the high command decides," he said.
Earlier in the day in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accompanied AICC Mallikarjun Kharge till airport from Vidhana Soudha, after paying tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 69th death anniversary, which had led to some speculation about possible discussion between the two on the leadership issue.
The power tussle within the ruling party had intensified amid speculation about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
However, both the CM and Deputy CM had recently held breakfast meetings at each others residences, on the instructions of the high command, which is seen as a move to pause the leadership tussle between the two and to signal Siddaramaiah's continuation as the CM for the time being, especially ahead of the Belagavi legislature session.
