Aarushi murder: Dasmunsi condemns media

New Delhi, Jun 12: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today condemned the media reporting of the Aarushi murder case, describing it as in bad taste and unfortunate, and appealed to journalists to behave more responsibly in such sensitive matters.

Mr Dasmunsi said he was really saddened by the way the minor victim was portrayed in the media, which could not be called responsible and sensitive reporting by any standard. Without naming any TV channel, Mr Dasmunsi said he did not believe in slapping show cause notices on channels all the time, but was trying to make them realise their responsibility. ''Unfortunately, the growing competition among media companies, if I may say so, unhealthy competition is threatening all journalistic norms and values,'' said the Minister addressing the 41st Convocation of the India Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) here.

He said his Ministry had received many complaints from the public and concerned citizen groups about ''numerous instances of media excesses and trials, fake sting operations, criminal tresspassing of privacy, glamourisation of criminals and mafia dons, promotion of hatred among communities and inflaming of raw emotions.'' ''This is a very dangerous trend not only for the media but for democracy and all humanity,'' said Mr Dasmunsi.

The Minister said he strongly believed in free media, but freedom demanded responsibility.

Underlining that the growth of the media industry in India was unparalleled in the world, he said the IIMC could play a vital role in providing creative and trained professionals to the industry in adequate numbers.

The institute, therefore, needed to enhance capacity, start new courses and training programmes.

He said IIMC students should be given more exposure and sent to attend government media briefings too.

He said the proposal for the upgradation of the IIMC into an International Media University had been cleared by the Planning Commission.

The Director of the Institute Stuti Kakkar announced the introduction of a new award named after renowed writer Banarsidas Chaturvedi, for IIMC students.

Earlier, the Minister awarded PG diploma to the students.

UNI