He is demanding “draconian powers” for Press Council
The Editors Guild of India has come out with a scathing condemnation of Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju's “ill-considered, sweeping and uninformed comments on the media,” alleging that they “touched a new low.”
Justice Katju made the remarks in an interview to Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN over the weekend.
In a statement, the Guild “strongly” opposed Justice Katju's demand for what it called “draconian powers” for the Press Council. These included the power to impose fines, withdraw advertisements and suspend publication licences.
It also objected to his suggestion that the Council be allowed to regulate television channels as well as newspapers. “The issues and drivers of the electronic media are such that they call for separate regulation. Therefore, the Guild firmly believes that the Press Council should have its brief limited to the print media, as it is at present.”
In less than a month at the helm of the Press Council, Justice Katju has irked senior journalists with his negative comments. At his first informal get-together with editors, his blunt lecture on the defects of the media and the stern warning that “if the media proves incorrigible, harsh measures may be required” had led to sharp disagreements with several veteran journalists.
In his CNN-IBN interview, Justice Katju said he had a poor opinion of most media people, who had a very “poor intellectual level” without much knowledge of economic theory, political science, literature or philosophy. He felt that the media divided people on religious lines and played an anti-people role. He said he had written to the Prime Minister, asking for a media council with more powers to penalise media organisations if they behaved in a “very obnoxious manner.”
‘A bulwark’
The Guild accused Justice Katju of wanting to “invoke fear in the media.” “Press freedom is a bulwark for the Indian people against the onslaught of people in authority, and the Guild will firmly oppose the assumption of any draconian powers by a Press Council that was created with an altogether different purpose.
“Its attempt to engage in dialogue with Mr. Katju has been rendered futile by Mr. Katju, who, however, continues to express his tendentious and offensive views.”
Comments:
Why is the guild afraid of penalty when they are not sure of any wrong-doing? Bunch of hyprocrites! Press NEEDS reulation like all other three pillars of the society do.
Media wants a toothless Press Council. The opinion of Justice Katju that most of the media people had a very poor intellectual level may be blunt but it is true. The Big bosses of the Media and the Editors Guild who had condemned the views expressed by Justice Katju , had not bothered to condemn the Paid- News or the action of the journalists who had accepted cash for coverage of Advani's Yathra. Electronic Media should be brought under the Press Council empowered with powers sought by Justice Katju. Nowhere in the world the media is irresponsible as in India . In USA the media has freedom with responsibilty to the Nation and they dont cross the Lakshmanan Rekha. It is only yesterday the Supreme Court made an observation warning the media for having misquoted Supreme Court's proceedings. Whether it is print media or electronic media the reporting should not be with an intention to tarnish the image of the Law enforcing agencies without any basis.Media should also come under Lok Pal.
Mr Katju, your steps are in the right direction. The media today largely displays an attitude of all rights and no duties. News in the media has a tremendous impact on the citizens ,both young and old and lack of responsibility on the part of editors is clearly visible over the years in the news reporting that has been witnessed.
As a barometer of how strong people feel on this topic let me suggest that it would be advisable to make laws regarding media irresponsibility non-bailable.
I think Hon'ble Justic Katju is quite correct in making his comments. The Role of media (print as well as television channels)has to be checked properly and unless and until they are brought within the ambit of one authority like Press Council with some teeth to the latter, nothing positive could be visible. It is really pathetic to open news channel in the morning and watch TRP stuffs.
Mr N Ram said in TV during one of the interviews, about one particular episode,"If this had happened in Guardian or in BBC, the erring person would have been fired long back." I was reminded of that when I saw the interview of Justice Katju. Actually, I thought he was echoing the feelings of millions of Indians and I felt like clapping when he was speaking. He said he does not have great regard for people in the media and this is what must have irked the TV anchors who receive awards every month.
There is a lot that indian media need to learn from western media. How western media has become strength as well as guide to society in the times of progress and transition is needed to be emulated by us.
Instead of getting agitated about Justice Katju's low opinion about the media and media persons, the Editor's Guild should introspect as to where they have gone wrong. The media's job as we understand it is to investigate and inform.Instead we find on so many occassions they sensationalise and mislead us. Only yesterday the Supreme Court has warned the media about misreporting proceedings being conducted in the Court.
The essence of the interview was the degradation of the intellectual level of the journalist and their insensitivity while reporting. The intellectually rich journalist and the print media have taken a back seat and have been overshadowed by the electronic media and their picture perfect but illiterate journalists. We all agree that any step towards curtailing the freedom is not right but we also agree that introspection, self regulation, good conventions and institutions for ensuring development is need of the hour. There is no substitute to good and regular education and acquiring various skills. I believe that the statements of the Chairman should be taken positively. Now a days we are impatient enough to start criticizing any intended change or hint thereof. The Chairman has always been open for any debate and discussion and therefore all such contentious issue should be discussed with him, asked for his explanation etc. I really doubt that his comments could be uninformed.
The suggestion by Markandey Katju, Press Council Chairman that he would like to impose certain curbs in 'government advertisements' in the media is welcome. One can find crores of rupees are transferred from government treasuries to media barons towards advertisement charges. This serves practically no purpose of the people. This functions only as mutual help agreement between the politicians and the Management of the print and electronic media. Political parties and their leaders are concerned with their images while the media-men are concerned with money. Transmission of information is obviously secondary.
The former Supreme Court judge and now the Press Council chairman Markandey Katju is the highly respected judicial brain in India and abroad. The minority community of Gujarat earnestly request Editors' Guild to please refresh their memory with the historical verdict of his predecessor entitiled COMMUNAL VIOLENCE IN GUJARAT- ROLE OF THE MEDIA (Adjudications rendered on 30.6.2003 in 24 cases). The situation has not changed since then and the vernacular Gujarati media continues to reap the fruits of their labour in catering the communal hatred and disharmony in everyday news and editorials in one way or other. State patronage at the cost of public exchequer is the greatest vice enjoyed by the so called free press, the fourth estate of the democracy. Editors' Guild has misconstrued Justice Katju. The fourth estate is not without corporate corruption. Some of them compromise freedom of press at the behest of multi national corporate houses's ire. Editor's guild is invited to read the editorials of Gujarati press of last decade. They enjoy the state patronage at the cost of public exchequer projecting particular political party and particular political leader. Do the readers who purchase news paper everyday have any right to say against the establishment ? No. Because it runs on corporate and state financing. In fact some editors are kneeling before them. This is the dark side to tne freedom of press and the time is now to have some stringent laws to deal with the situation in rarest of rare cases as suggested by Justince Katju. Editor's Guild has conveniently forgotten the Niira Radia taps which vindicates readers anger and frustrations.
We are a progessive society with increasing intellect and an array of oppurtunites in all fields......this includes media. What can one expect when excellent intellect is combined with no control? Are not we creating modern age demons this way. How many times have our media apologized for printing wrong facts??
Justice Katju has the requisite mandate to speak on media responsibilities -- as expected certain sections of the media are behaving in a juvenile way instead of pondering over what he has said. It is impossible to deny allegations against certain sections of the media -- now those same elements are the ones which strongly talk about "media's rights" in general trying to cover up their own faults. Irrespective of all the hysteria such sections of the media, Justice Katju must go ahead and do his duty.
The self serving people at the helm of editor's guild are unable to stomach the bitter truth. They know very well that barring a few exceptions most of the news which figure in the media are propaganda in the garb of news and most of the journalists dole out plebeian stuff. Hardly is there any research done on the topic of discussion. People with no sensitivity to the ground situation become overnight experts in those fields.The criticism of Justice Katju is well timed and correctly directed. only people with a feeling of guilt are feigning being hurt at his observations
An impulsive, knee jerk reaction from the Broadcaster Association and Editors Guild is very disappointing but not at all surprising. Their audacity in attacking the very integrity of the Hon' Judge was on display by The Editor of IBN7, on prime time television yesterday. The title of the program? 'Should Katju Apologize to Journalists?' Believe it or not, the people of India are nuanced enough to expect a free press and yet also a sense of accountability. The Press Council of India is NOT part of the Government of India, it is an Independent body that we hope will become more effective in keeping our free press focussed on the mission of 'serving the people.' I hope the Hindu comes out in support of an independent effective PCI, particularly since your Newspaper has given focus to the pratice of 'Paid News'and was in the forefront of informing readers during the 'Radia Gate/Burkha Gate/Vir Gate' Saga. A scandal, we might recall, our Broadcasters gave a light touch approach too.
Justice Katju is absolutely correct in all what he said. Considering how episodes like Radia Tapes takes place , it is absolutely important that media is controlled.
Justice Katju is correct in every aspect of his opinion about media and T.V media in particular. I agree with his remarks about media playing inflammatory communal role. T.V media is often misleading common man by its sensationalism style of journalism. Katrina Kaif's jumping over a wall in an attempt to ward of press outside Salman Khan's house has become "Breaking News". Quality of journalism is at all time low.Journalist themselves are of very poor knowledge and not very well qualified. In this huge pool of mud, we are losing diamonds. I think it is time that we have a regulating body that keeps these so called News Channels under check. All support for Justice Katju.
J.Markandeya Katju has the nerve to call spade a spade.He has displayed
the same courage in his new role. It is high time that the Nation
addresses the issue raised by him with due consideration. Who gave the
News channels the authority to malign persons in the pretext of Freedom
of Press.Let all political parties join , deliberate on the issue and
come to consensus.
JUst great . justice Katju is absolutely to the point& high time our media,including all tv channels raise their bar many notches.Many frequently travel abroad, interact with bbc, cnn etc. perhaps it would do a lot of good to get some people from BBC to work with some of our channels to be OBJECTIVE & IMPARTIAL IN REPORTING NEWS THAN AIRING ALL KINDS OF VIEWS
OUR MEDIA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE IF THEY TAKE JUSTICE KATJUS ADVICE SERIOUSLY.
May I ask where was this Editors Guild when the question of annexing the "2 member sub-committe report" to the final report on PAID NEWS came up for voting & 12 out of the 30 members in the PCI voted against it ,3 abstanied and ONLY 9 WERE IN FAVOUR OF IT BEING MADE PUBLIC?. Why didnt this same Editors Guild ensure the sub-committes report was annexed or atleast remained on PCI WEBSITE ? Because this sub-comitte report was damning on many of the big names for their indulgence in 'Paid news' . The nation & citizens of India deserve a more independent & ethical media and Mr KATJU is doing the right thing . Can this same Editors Guild deny that large sections of the media in India - while hypocritically pretending to occupy a high moral ground are participants and players in practices that contribute to the growing corporate-political nexus & use of money power in politics ? Its also high time, substance replaced persistent, vacuous and unsophisticated gossip in Indian MEDIA.
Its high time , the media barons, Editors Guild , PCI members & journalists within the country realise & take note on what the citizens think about INDIAN MEDIA TODAY .
Almost 100% of the readers who have responded to the various reports/debate in the print and tv media concerning Mr KATJU's statements , have responded in favour of Mr Katju . The disillusionment of the viewers/ readers with the persistent, vacuous , unsophisticated gossip & false propoganda in the media is total . Most citizens also feel, large sections of Indian media are participants and players in practices that contribute to the growing corporate-political nexus & use of money power in politics.To those who matter in the Indian media who would like to lend their ears, “For once, please display some real will .The churning at present happening in India over the issue of cleaning up media is good for the country, and we as a nation should seize this moment to bring about a real change ."
May I ask where was this Editors Guild when the question of annexing the '2 member sub-committee report' to the final report on PAID NEWS came up for voting & 12 out of the 30 members in the PCI voted against it ,3 abstanied and ONLY 9 WERE IN FAVOUR OF IT BEING MADE PUBLIC?. Why didnt this same Editors Guild ensure the sub-committes report was annexed or atleast remained on PCI WEBSITE ? Because this sub-comittee report was damning on many of the big names for their indulgence in 'Paid news' . The nation & citizens of India deserve a more independent & ethical media and Mr KATJU is doing the right thing. Can this same Editors Guild deny that large sections of the media in India - while hypocritically pretending to occupy a high moral ground are participants and players in practices that contribute to the growing corporate-political nexus & use of money power in politics ? It is also high time, substance replaced persistent, vacuous and unsophisticated gossip in Indian MEDIA.
Mass media has the power to shape public mindset is a foregone conclusion .
When media is owned by corporates and politicians and vice-versa ,can owners interests allow media to perform its duty- with objectivity , neutrality and impartiality ,without any regulation? Will the public recieve unbiased reporting ? What does 'radia tapes " and 'Paid -news' reports prove ?That the contents in Indian media today are totally biased and does not fulfill any of these conditions-of objectivity , neutrality and impartiality .
Mass media has a responsibility to society and public interest , BUT THEY HAVE FAILED miserably.The responses and debates in the media therefore from the public over Mr KATJUS remarks are fully (100%) in support of him and his ideas that Indian media needs a watchdog .
Then why are the media barons,Editors Guild,PCI members & journalists groups not willing for a course correction under a media watchdog ? Let them please convince the Indian viewers and readers first.
Indians are now in quest of a non-commercialized media which can offer : presentation of national issues without mucking up the waters ;programming that expands the minds of children, documentaries that open up new worlds for citizens; neutralized news programs that keep citizens informed on world & India events ; talk shows/debates that dont 'lead' to a foregone conclusion ; programs that expose Indians to the worlds of music, theater, dance , culture and art; programs with questioning and thought provoking content .
This is what the stalwars and well wishers of Indian media need to seriously think about instead of simply opposing Justice Katjus views , which are 100% true.