The dividing line between news and opinion has weakened which leaves viewers and readers searching for facts and print media can strike back by presenting them without a slant, said Information & Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley. He was speaking at the release of the 59th Annual Report on Print Media “Press in India” on Tuesday.
The Minister regretted that while there has been an explosion of TV channels, viewers are compelled to often watch shrill debates, which does not satisfy their craving for facts. “After such debates, the viewer is left searching for the actual news.”
However, written word continues to be powerful. “So print media can strike back; as it has a big opportunity of presenting lucid clear news without any opinion before the readers,” pointed out Jailey.
He reminded that world over even as print media organisations are facing challenges, their numbers nonetheless continue to grow. Such a trend, according to him is good for democracy.
The vast expansion of media in various segments as print, electronic and internet etc., the reader/viewer comes across many versions of the same news. “It is the reader who then has to decide where the truth lies,” he said.
The old principle according to Jaitley lies in the fact news is sacred and should be presented clearly without any slant, adding that the space for opinion should be in the editorials.
Referring to the latest data brought out by Registrar for Newspapers in India (RNI), Jailey noted that newspapers have grown at over 8 per cent and a large part of it is because of growth in regional newspapers.
He however said that magazine journalism is probably declining with the advent of TV, internet and other alternatives. Another reason for this trend, he said, could be that events move at a fast pace and readers may not always be interested in reading the analysis of an event after a week.
He suggested that there is a need to reinvent magazine journalism. Some leading global magazines, he said, have now restricted themselves to online editions.