MEDIA URGED TO CONTRIBUTE
FOR MAKING INDIA STRONG
NATIONAL
PRESS DAY CELEBRATED
The Information and Broadcasting Minister, Smt.
Sushma Swaraj has called upon the media to introspect and contribute
to make India a strong and a vibrant democratic India to take
its due place in the comity of nations. Delivering her address
at a function to mark the National Press Day, here today, Smt.
Swaraj regretted that in today’s media scenario, which has undergone
a sea change after the technology explosion, the sensational news
has edged out the developmental and positive news. In a race for
being the first and most sensational, the good aspects of the
news items are being sacrificed. Sensation may be a good saleable
commodity commercially, but it is not in the overall interests
of the country, she said.
The eminent jurist and MP, Shri F. S. Nariman
who delivered the keynote address on ‘ Future of India: Role of
Media’ said that the media must be sensitive to the people’s problems
and should lean on the side of the weak and the oppressed. It
must be responsible to the Constitution and the country and not
to the Government, the business houses or the politicians. A free
and robust press is must for the successful functioning of our
democratic system, Shri Nariman said.
The Chairman of the Press Council of India, Justice
Jaichandra Reddy said that the spirit of the freedom struggle
have to be revived and media must re-dedicate itself to the good
old values of the profession of journalism. The small and medium
newspapers, which have more and better access to the rural and
far-flung areas have a greater role in awakening the people, he
said.
Justice Reddy said that the Press Council is
holding discussions and seminars on the theme – ‘Future of India:
Role of Media’ at several places in the country today. The Speaker
of Lok Sabha, Shri Manohar Joshi presided over the function.
