President Pranab Mukherjee criticize over paid news

The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) on 27th February celebrated  its Platinum Jubilee celebrations with a special event organised at the Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. President of India has called as the chief guest in the event.

Speaking at the ceremony, president stated that “The Indian Newspaper Society has over the years met the challenges of time even as it has represented the most influential of India’s newspapers and periodicals.” 

Praising the newspaper body, he said, “The INS has helped create and nurture institutions like the Press Trust of India and the Audit Bureau of Circulation. INS members have played a vital role in nurturing a free press. which is a critical component of our democracy.”

At the same time, Mukherjee also said, “It is distressing to note that some publications have resorted to ‘paid news’ and other such marketing strategies to drive their revenues. There is need for self-correcting mechanisms to check such aberrations.”

He further said that the temptation to “dumb down” news should also be resisted. “The nation faces critical challenges that go well beyond the pressure of ‘Breaking News’ and immediate headlines. While you must continue to be effective raconteurs, you must also be visionary nation builders.  You are, after all, the crystal ball that millions of Indians gaze at. It is your responsibility and your bounden duty to ensure that ideas are debated dispassionately and thoughts articulated without fear or favour so that opinion is always well informed,” the President added.

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/national-news/item/4358-president-pranab-mukherjee-criticize-over-paid-news.html
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/national-news/item/4358-president-pranab-mukherjee-criticize-over-paid-news.html