Freedom of expression naturally assumed by the ‘media' is being misused by a large section, while journalists need to remember that freedom comes with responsibility, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Daggubati Purandeswari has said.
Laying the foundation for new printing facility of Telugu daily ‘Visalandhra' at Marikavalasa on the city outskirts, Ms. Purandeswari said with the explosion of media houses in the recent years competitive spirit has set in but the basic objectives gave way to sensationalism.
Expressing concern over the excessive coverage given to nudity, crime reports like attacks on women, a rape etc. she said that journalists should concentrate on ways to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor concentrating on the rural lifestyle deficiencies etc.
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Language skills of journalists were at their low and need to improve in all languages to protect and pass on the best to the future generations, said pointing out at the howlers in both electronic and print media everyday.
Impartial writing
Communist Party of India State secretary K. Narayana said ethics in journalism needed to be improved, but before that the political system should be reformed. Calling upon the media to stick to impartial writing and develop those skills among the upcoming journalists also, took strong objection at the unhealthy competition setting in the media.
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He, however, saw a link between the deteriorating political system and the unhealthy media, and foresaw a cleansing in the political system sooner than later.
Visalandhra Vignana Samithi president Chada Venkata Reddy, former MLA M. Anjaneyulu, CPI district secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy and others also participated in the function.