Media often highlights non-issues: Katju

“Non-issues” often get prominence while “real issues” get ignored in the media but persuasion rather than coercion is the method which new Chairman of Press Council India and the former Supreme Court Justice, Markandey Katju, would favour.

“Poverty and unemployment are major issues facing the country. And not that the wife of some film actor has got pregnant. But these days, it makes big news,” Justice Katju said as he joined his new office here.

“What problem of the nation would be solved by publishing an item on whether a film actor's wife gives birth to a single child or twins? But this gets displayed prominently on the front page,” he said.

“If you consider yourself as those serving the public, then you should address the problems facing the public,” Justice Katju said. On his new role , he said he would prefer persuasion to coercion.

“I was going through papers and it has been suggested by some that there should be provisions like fines and cancellation of licences but I am not in favour of such methods,” he said. — PTI