Drawing similarities in the responsibilities between the administration and the media, Deputy Commissioner Y.S. Patil said that both disciplines needed to function with honesty, and uphold ethical values with good communication skills while discharging duties.
Speaking after inaugurating ‘Press Day’ programme organised by Vthe ijayapura district unit of Karnataka Union of Working Journalists’ on Sunday, he said that like a good administrator does justice to society, similarly, a good journalist also does justice to society.
He said that media persons and administrators must work with sincerity. They must also have the same goal of working for the society. “If media and administration goes in opposite directions, then certainly it will act against the interest of the society,” he said.
At the same time, he advised officials to take constructive criticism positively to help people.
Stressing upon the need to cross verify every news before filing, Mr. Patil said that often, some articles carry misleading and incorrect information. This only affects the credibility of the media. He advised mediapersons not to become judgemental.
In his address, Superintendent of Police Prakash Nikam said that today, more than the mainstream media, it was social media that was posing a bigger challenge to society and law enforcement agencies as it was spreading false information.
“Today, we have reached a stage when many meditation centres have been advising people to stay completely away from media if they really want to get some relief for their stress,” he said.
Fake news
Echoing a similar sentiment, Omkar Kakde, Head of the Department of Journalism, Karnataka Akkamahadevi Women’s University, said that according to report of Microsoft Research, India tops the world in spreading fake news. He said that over 4,000 people have died in the country owing to spreading of fake news through social media.
District president Sharanu Masali, vice-president Firoz Rozindar, State Executive Committee member Devendra Helawar, office members and journalists were present.
