Arjun: Media Important Pillar Of Democracy

New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) Media perhaps perform the ''most critical function'' among institutions that contribute to the makeup of a public sphere in society, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh observed this evening.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Media and its Responsibilities,' the HRD Minister said, ''the media is rightly acknowledged as one of the important pillars of democracy.'' Participants included former governor Bhishma Narain Singh, former Central Bureau of Investigation director Joginder Singh, Press Information Bureau Director General Deepak Sandhu, All India Small and Medium Newspapers Federation president Gurinder Singh and Congress media manager Tom Vadakkan.

He said media held ''as much responsibility in a democratic set up as any other constitutional organ.'' Singh said the face of Indian Media has been fast changing with growth of Internet, the phenomenal rise of Satellite and Cable networks, the continuing growth of regional press and blurring of lines between news and entertainment.

This, he said, has led to technological and commercial pressures and changes in professional practices for the media sector.

Singh said the small and medium newspapers largely cater to information, communication and entertainment needs of rural and semi-urban India. ''They draw their strength from being local.'' He pointed out that without access to internet and satellite and cable television, the needs of people in rural areas must be met by Doordarshan, Radio or newspapers.

Small and medium newspapers, he said, have a greater responsibility for disseminating news among rural people.

He stressed the growth of small and medium newspapers to ensure multiple access to media by everyone, including the poor and underprivileged sections.

Singh said given their ''inherent disability'' to circulate in huge numbers, and their localised nature, small newspapers fail to attract enough commercial advertisements, adversely affecting the quality of news gathering and the end product.

He said the managers of small and medium papers need to continuously find ways and means to sustain themselves and remain an important source of information to their readership.

UNI