Vishal Joshi, Hindustan Times, Kurukshetra

Aug 12, 2015

Ramon Magsaysay award recipient and veteran journalist P Sainath has called for introducing media literacy programme at the school level to make mass media more accountable.

Delivering a lecture on "Emerging trends in the Indian media" at Kurukshetra University on Tuesday, Sainath said in the absence of awareness, people were subjected to rampant misinformation and slanted campaigns in the mass media.

"From advertisements to news contents in electronic and print media, the Indian media has a huge credibility deficit. Therefore, it is important that people since younger age are exposed to look at media critically by understanding the nature, techniques and impact of the mass media," he said at an event organised by the Institute of Mass Communications and Media Technology.

He said that while the digital space was important tool for information dissemination, a user was open to breach of privacy due to its monopolistic policies.

However, Sainath said that paid news, selective blackouts of news events, massive reduction on news gathering from the spot and reporting without analysis were among the key challenges before the Indian media.

He criticised the television channels for conducting slanted debates on frivolous topics.Sainath said that an independent public broadcaster should be promoted to give space to the marginalised sections of the society.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/indian-media-facing-credibility-deficit-says-veteran-journalist/article1-1379005.aspx