The Hindu : `Press should reflect people's voice'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 17, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

`Press should reflect people's voice'

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Nov. 16. The press should exercise self-restraint, have ethical responsibility, and be committed to social activism, Justice A.J. Sadashiva, former judge of the Karnataka High Court, said here today.

Inaugurating a function organised by the Department of Information to observe National Newspaper Day, Mr. Justice Sadashiva said the media was the most influential of all the institutions in a democracy and had the power to mould public opinion.

This power should not be misused for personal gain, settling scores with rivals, or voicing a biased opinion. The interests of the common man were imperative to the principles of journalism, and all writings should reflect the voice of the people.

Referring to the Cauvery water dispute, he said by refusing to release water to Tamil Nadu, even after the Supreme Court direction, the Karnataka Government was giving a wrong signal to the common man, who has to look towards the judicial system for obtaining justice. It was up to the press to highlight such issues, he said.

The press should also be a vehicle for change and help in creating awareness about the rights of the common man, especially the marginalised sections.

The programmes and schemes evolved by government institutions should be conveyed to the people through newspapers, while the problems and injustice faced by the common man should be communicated to the authorities concerned.

The press in our country enjoyed enough freedom, but journalists should not mistake that freedom for `absolute power' and misuse it for vested interests, he said. Though there was legislation in the country to impose reasonable restrictions on the media, including laws on defamation, copyright, and so on, there were a few persons who indulged in slander and blackmail, and maligned reputations through their writings, for personal benefit. Reports on the judiciary and the judges should be accurate and fair and not based on hearsay, Mr. Justice Sadashiva said

N. Arjun Deva, Chairman, Karnataka Press Academy, and T. Nagaraju, President, Karnataka Journalist's Cooperative Society, were present.

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