Union Minister of State for Communications and IT Killi Kruparani on Saturday said media particularly the electronic media, should shun sensationalism and called for steps to improve the credibility of reportage.
She was speaking at the inaugural of two-day second State conference of Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists’ Federation (APWJF) here.
While admitting the importance of media as the fourth estate, she said the media – whether print or electronic – should create awareness on issues of global concern like HIV/AIDS, vouch the cause of voiceless and expose the omissions and commissions of the establishment.
“Instead of doing this, I am so sorry to point out that many indulge in negative propaganda.
The damage done by TV channels is more than what newspapers do,” she said and pointed out how wife of a Panchayati Raj employee at Anakapalle was forced to commit suicide couple of years ago after seeing a scrolling on a TV channel that her husband was corrupt. The Minister, a qualified doctor from Srikakulam, pointed out how she and her family suffered mental agony due to campaign by a section of the media that she and her doctor-husband were indulging in ‘stealing kidneys’ in their hospital. “Such character assassination also led to the talk in Srikakulam that we are shifting kidneys in briefcases from the operation theatre. Some of those who went by the reports had to make a beeline to the scanning centres in Visakhapatnam to find out whether their kidneys were intact or not,” she lamented.
She promised that she would use her good offices for providing social security to journalists and take up their demands for pension, medical and other facilities.
APWJF State vice-president G. Srinubabu presided. Among others, Press Academy of AP Chairman T. Surender, Information Commissioner P. Vijay Babu, Rajya Sabha MP T. Subbarami Reddy, Press Council of India member N. Ramachandra Rao, AU Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju, Sakshi TV managing editor R. Dileep Reddy, MLAs D. Srinivasa Rao, T. Vijay Kumar, M. Srinivasa Rao and M. Vijaya Prasad, spoke. APWJF State general secretary G. Anjaneyulu, president D. Basapunnaiah, vice-president Koteswara Rao, city president P. Narayan, secretary P.U.S. Bhaskar and others were present.
V-C’s plea
Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju on Saturday said AU had all the pre-requisites to be conferred with Central University status.
Speaking at the inaugural of two-day State conference of AP Working Journalists’ Federation, he requested Union Minister of State for Communications and IT Killi Kruparani, who was the chief guest at the meeting, to use her good offices to get Centre’s nod to confer Central University status on AU.
