Media Must Return to Truth and Social Accountability; Journalism Losing Credibility Due to Sensationalism, Paid News and Political Bias, Warns State Leadership on Press Day
Tumakuru: The state government is planning to introduce a special bill to control fake news, as misinformation and sensationalism in media continue to pose serious risks to democracy, social unity, and public trust, Said Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara.
Speaking at the Press Day celebrations organised by the State and District Working Journalists' Association at the District Council Office on Sunday, Parameshwara issued a sharp critique of the current media landscape.
“There should be proper control over fake news as it spreads misinformation, creates sectionalism and exaggerates the issues in society. Journalism should reflect the truth, it mirrors society. But now, it’s becoming biased, political mouthpieces are emerging, and freedom of speech is being misused,” he said.
The Home Minister expressed concern that many news channels and platforms are indulging in “paid news”, giving disproportionate importance to urban stories while rural issues like farmer poverty and village problems are sidelined. He added that modernisation has overtaken the essence of journalism, which once stood for truth, investigation, and public service.
K.V. Prabhakar Calls for Moral Introspection in Journalism
K.V. Prabhakar, Chief Minister’s Media Advisor, also addressed the gathering and echoed Parameshwara’s concerns. He praised the role of journalists in a democracy, but pointed out how the rise of "statement-oriented" journalism and the need for fact-checking itself indicate the decay within the profession.
“Fact check situation came to journalism—was it needed? If we were true to our purpose, would fake news thrive? The courts are cracking the whip on the media. Shouldn’t we introspect as a profession?” Prabhakar questioned.
He warned that if journalism continues on this path, it may lose its moral courage to question authority—a foundational role the media was once proud of.
“We were once known as watchdogs of democracy. But today, it seems the media itself needs a watchdog. If we don’t uphold the dignity of the profession our predecessors built, who will?” he asked.
He further emphasised that development and people-oriented journalism, not just political commentary, should become the media’s focus.
Poor Global Ranking and Lost Respect
Highlighting India’s 151st position out of 181 countries in global press freedom rankings, Prabhakar posed a provocative question to the audience:
“We are the second-largest media nation with over 188 languages represented, but where is our respect? Who is responsible for the decline in trust and dignity? No other profession has taken it from us—we gave it away ourselves.”
The CM's media advisor urged the journalist community to restore their commitment to public interest, adding, “This profession fed us, gave us our place in society. We owe it to our next generation to leave it stronger, not hollowed.”
Journalism and Government Support
Prabhakar thanked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for rolling out support measures for journalists such as the Arogya Sanjeevini health scheme and free rural bus passes, and advocated for extending such schemes to all working journalists across the state.
Union Minister Somanna Urges Ethical Journalism
Union Railway Minister V. Somanna, who was also present, remarked that fake news travels faster than good news, diluting the impact of actual developmental stories. He stressed the role of journalists in nation-building, stating that lies must be avoided and ethics must guide reporting.
“We want to extend the metro to Tumkur and bring in new railway projects. But such news gets buried under the noise of fake sensationalism. Journalists must remember the legacy of their predecessors and work for societal upliftment,” he said.
A Gathering of Media Voices
The event saw the participation of over 300 journalists from across Karnataka. Also present were Tumakuru MLA G. B. Jyothi Ganesh, S. Naganna, Editor-in-Chief of Prajapragathi, and other key media stakeholders.
No comments:
Post a Comment