'Celebrate Feb 12 as World Journalism Day'
Noida, Feb 12 : Advocating the campaign to celebrate February 12 as World Journalism Day, former Chief Election Commissioner G V G Krishnamurthy said in democracy the media has been termed Fourth Estate and so to carry out its responsibility it should bring out the truth without any pressure or partiality.
Addressing the Global Festival of Journalism organised by Marwah Creativity Centre, Mr Krishnamurthy said the media should understand its responsibility towards the nation and it should work with integrity.
He took aim at politicians, saying earlier leaders would refuse
posts for the sake of values and morals but now the present breed of the fraternity give up morals and values for the sake of posts.
He said it is an irony that those who themselves break law with
impunity today frame laws for the country.
He regretted that even today 66 per cent of the population
does not have potable water at their disposal, 55 per cent are not able to go to school, 41 per cent do not have bank accounts, 52 per cent do not have TVs and 41 per cent do not own phones.
Addressing the function, News Agency United News of India Director Vishwas Tripathi said it is the moral responsibility of the media to do justice to news.
He stressed that it should be the continuous effort of the media to put across news to the public based on right facts and figures.
Veteran journalist Alok Mehta said commercialisation was there in journalism earlier too but today its remit has expanded.
Mr Mehta said journalism should have reach in rural as well as urban areas.
He called upon students to face criticism and hone their talent.