Prez asks media to play fair

Dec. 1: The President, Mrs Pratibha Patil, on Tuesday urged journalists to focus on positive news to inspire people.

Addressing the who’s who of the print media from across 87 countries at the World Press Summit here, she regretted the tendency in some sections of the media to focus excessively on negative news.

“There is of course a lesson to be learnt from events that are negative, but equally important is to convey positive messages and to inspire people,” she said. “Media, therefore, must search for and find a balance.”

The President urged journalists to exhibit objectivity, fairness and a deep sense of responsibility towards society. “Media is indeed operating in a dynamic environment that characterises the contemporary world,” she said. “Globalisation has created a situation where events can no longer be viewed as isolated occurrences.”

She said the media could play a crucial role in promoting behavioural patterns, consumption preferences and production models which were environment friendly.

“Journalism should remain anchored in some basic principles and criteria,” she said. “Its first obligation is to truth, its first loyalty is to the citizens, its essence is the discipline of verification of a news story before being published or broadcast and its practitioners must exercise their personal conscience.”

The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, who also spoke, lauded journalists who struggled to do justice to their profession by reporting on terrorist activities.

The Indian Newspaper Society president and chairman of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd, Mr T. Venkattram Reddy, welcomed the delegates. He said the Indian media had grown along with the freedom struggle and continued to play a leading role in spreading awareness and mobilising popular opinion.

“In these challenging times, the free press in India with its unflinching courage and undiminished idealism has broadened and deepened our democracy and continues to nurture, sustain and strengthen our nation,” he said. As many as 900 delegates from leading newspapers across the world are attending the summit.