The Hans India: Hyderabad: Sunday, January 07, 2018.
Prof.
Madabushi Sridhar Acharyulu, Commissioner, Central Information
Commission, New Delhi, observed that
despite corporatization of the media and credibility deficit, there
is still private space for
the citizens and journalists to
exercise their democratic rights.
Delivering
the key note address at the symposium on” Ethics of Electronic media,” here
today at the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Prof. Sridhar Acharyulu said
that there is private space for issues of public concern provided
journalists use their editorial judgment and are not swayed by what is trending
in social media
On corruption
in media and fake news, Prof. Sridhar, remarked that fake news is a criminal
activity and is punishable. “Desist from indulging in such acts, he urged
journalists. Lamenting that “strong editors” are a vanishing breed, he said a
few such individuals are bound to become “former editors” very soon. Pointing
out that the media has been corporatized, he said one cannot discuss ethics without
talking of media take over by corporate and commercial interests. In fact the
First Press Commission recommended delinking the industry from the media but
today there is total silence on the issue. Also, there should be curbs on cross media
ownership, he added.
Freedom of
speech and expression and the media are coming under serious threat from
commercial and other interests and is being suppressed for losing credibility, the Information Commissioner , he said and added
that electronic media has become “
entertainment media” he called upon journalists
that individual ethical framework coupled with spirited public interest
journalism is the need of the hour.
Citing
examples from the Vietnam War he pointed out that one journalist through his
Pulitzer winning picture of a girl in a warn torn country changed public
opinion leading to stoppage of war. He said, another journalist committed
suicide for not helping a toddler in a famine stricken country with a vulture
waiting to devour it. These are shining examples of what individual journalists
can do to mould public opinion, he added. Civil society is the fifth estate and
as citizens we need to educate others.
Recalling the
efforts of a Professor from Ahmadabad who approached the court seeking
information about the criminal antecedents of politicians, he said, all
political parties opposed it. But the Court saw nothing wrong in the petition
and directed the Government to act. His
persistence paid off and the Representation of People Act was amended and today
we have all the data of our people’s representatives in public domain.
Guest of
honour, Prof. K. Nageshwar pointed out the dependency of media on the market
forces and said that perspective is being lost in the din during prime time.
What is in public interest need not necessarily be of interest to public, he
said and regretted the degradation of values in the society which impacts media.
Prof.
K.Stevenson, Head, Journalism Department presided. Silveri Srishailam, Editor-
Probetimes, Uppala Laxman, Ex Member, PCI, Subash Agarwal, RTI activist also
spoke. The symposium was organized by the Department of Journalism and Mass
Communication in collaboration with Telangana Journalists Association. Several
working journlaists, research scholars and students participated.
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