Vibrant journalism is based on professional ethics: Ansari

New Delhi, Jan 28 : Emphasising that the purpose of journalism and the objectives of media enterprises have undergone a fundamental change, Vice-President Hamid Ansari said that in a changing world "vibrant journalism in a democracy is watchdog journalism".

"In a changed and changing world, it would be useful to remember that vibrant journalism in a democracy is watchdog journalism. It monitors the exercise of power in the state and stands for the rights and freedoms of citizens," said Ansari while delivering the inaugural M.C. Verghese Memorial Lecture series at the Constitution Club here Thursday.

"It informs and empowers citizens rather than entertains and titillates them. Vibrant journalism is based on professional ethics and should be the rule rather than the exception it has come to be."

The memorial lecture series has been instituted by the Mangalam Group in the memory of its founder, the late M.C. Varghese.

Ansari pointed out that the winds of economic liberalisation brought with it elements of the market economy that have changed the DNA of media organisations.

"The phenomenon of convergence between news media, entertainment and telecom has meant that the demarcation between journalism, public relations, advertising and entertainment is rapidly eroding," he said.

The responsibilities of large media organisations, he said, had been diluted by the commercial logic of catering to the interests of the shareholders of the holding companies instead of focusing on their primary professional duty to their readership.

"Commercial success of media organisations has become a function of advertising revenues rather than subscription and circulation figures," he said.

"The advertisers have thus replaced the recipients of media products. By the same logic, circulation figures, meant to attract advertising, became more important than content."

Ansari lamented that the pursuit of profit has altered the profile of the media entrepreneur.

"Today, a media enterprise is seen as a necessary subsidiary for a growing business enterprise, a political party and even individuals seeking to leverage public influence for private gain," he said.

"On the other hand, deception, opaque flow of political information, or slanted economic data prevents political and economic actors from exercising rational and well considered choices. They impede the democratic process and could lead to public disenchantment."

Ansari also said that recent practices of "paid news" and "coverage packages" in the media for overt and covert revenue generation had the potential to tarnish the polity and even destabilise the economy.

At the end, Ansari left the audience with posers to introspect on whether there was a public debate on issues affecting the common citizen, sufficient media space for the marginalised sections and to what extent the media contributed to upholding the social and political objectives of the Constitution.