Ethical media can alone preserve public trust: Shourie

Kolkata, May 29 (UNI) The media's job is to preserve the public trust which is born out of responsible journalism, Rajya Sabhya member and Indian Express columnist Arun Shourie said here today.

Speaking at a panel discussion here on "Challenges in Journalism: Ethics and Public Trust, Mr Shourie expressed concern over the safety of the local media due to the evaporation of proper governance.

''Media is an important instrument of democracy. I am distressed that we have become mere vegetable gardens,'' he blurted out in anger, while speaking about how today's media has ruined the definition of "News".

He also urged the media persons present on the occasion to strike a balance in real journalism where we can identify whether a local murder is news or encroachment of one country by another.

''The local media is not only unsafe from criminal elements but their freedom is also compromised by private companies,'' Mr Shourie said.

The high profile columnist threw light on how the audio-visual media today tries to copy each other and how that jeopardises the cause of "service towards society" which is really the main duty of the media.

''Unless we provide more analysis and insight into the issues concerning the nation, then it has no value to the people,'' he iterated.

''Our job is not to talk about the news but to bring the news to the people factually and in a way that the people would need to know,'' he said, adding that these days when we chose what people need to know we automatically assume they want to know about scandals and entertainment.

He further said that the media must be ready to face the challenges that will come its way when they report against the ills done by those in power, becuase they will be opposed.

Others present on the occasion were ITC Ltd Executive vice-president Anand Nayak, Patton International Managing Director Sanjay Budhia.

The main panelists included Mr Rudrangshu Mukherjhee from the The Telegraph and Tehelka Editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal.

UNI