Media has become a commodity: PCI chairman

Lamenting that media has become a "commodity", Press Council of India chairman justice GN Ray today said the "paid news syndrome" was a sad commentary on its functioning.

"The distortion, disinformation and 'paid news syndrome' aimed to serve certain interests and suppression of news and concerns of other interests have become a usual feature in media," he said on the occasion of National Press Day.

"It is a sad commentary on today's media functioning that the media entrusted with the sacred duty of informing the civil society and the administration correctly and dispassionately has indulged in large scale misinformation and tainted communication only to augment greater profit," he said.

Delivering the keynote address on the "Changing face of Indian Media", he said, "Instead of making the newspaper rich in news content and addressing serious issues for better governance of the country and improve socio-economic disparities, the media driven by market forces is indulging in trivialisation and sensationalisation.

It is cleverly attempting to keep under wraps such deplorable design, by covertly underplaying trivialisation of news content."

Observing that many media units were owned by corporate houses, he said major national newspapers were very often covertly lobbyed the pursuits of big corporate houses while problems, concerns and interests of the weaker segment of the society were inappropriately projected.

"The emergence of big media houses and corporatisation of media is heading fast towards monopoly in the media. This is a matter of concern as such monopoly in media is inherently not good for Indian democracy," Ray observed.

Noting that media, like other institutions, too has succumbed to the vice of malpractices and corruption, he said in today's media functioning, subtle and implicit form of corruption was creating greater "mischief".

Ray noted that "trial by media" of sub judice matters and incorrect reporting of court proceedings have become a "disturbing phenomenon."

He also lamented that the office of editor has been "marginalised" and the editor has very little or no say over the contents of the newspaper.

Quoting former president APJ Abdul Kalam as having said that, "It is very important for the media to be partner in national mission and that they should highlight the positive aspects and provide solutions to difficult aspects through nationwide consultations," he observed that "the media of today should be the torch that shows the way and not the fire that destroys."

Referring to the spurt in number of journalism training institutions across the country, Ray said a body on the lines of Medical Council of India and the AICTE should be set up for monitoring the functioning of such institutes.

"This body should have the power to disaffiliate," he added.

The PCI chairman added that the media was failing to play its role as Fourth Estate effectively.