Home >> Media - Others >> Article

Paid news can distort news: President Pratibha Patil

23-July-2010

Akash Raha

Font Size   16

• 
• 
• 
• 

The Indian Express Group on July 22, 2010 presented the fourth Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards. The awards were given away by President Pratibha Patil. Courage, ethics, accuracy and fairness were the basis on which the awards were presented.

Speaking on this occasion, the President said that journalism has been intrinsically linked with our freedom struggle and stalwarts like Ramnath Goenka have given new shape to Indian journalistic tradition. “Journalism and media are important participants in the process of nation building. I am confident that media, which is a vehicle for disseminating news and for shaping an enlightened public opinion, will play its role of a catalyst for a positive change,” she said.

She further said that journalistic accounts were important chronicles of our times, however, there was a constant need for change. She called for increased sensatisation of information. “Today, the business environment has become very competitive. In an attempt to be the first to break the news, stories begin to be aired or come on the pages even before all facts have been fully verified and double checked. Honesty, integrity and conviction are the three fundamental characteristics that define a true professional journalist… Moreover, the duties of journalism and media can never be dictated by the market,” Patil affirmed.

She also expressed the hope that paid news would be kept under check and said, “Paid news can distort news, which interferes with the concept of a free, fair and objective press.”

The Ramnath Goenka Award instituted a new award this year – the Ramnath Goenka Award for Journalism of Courage, which was awarded posthumously to Vijay Pratap Singh, an Indian Express reporter who died this week after being injured in a blast in Allahabad.

Speaking on the occasion, Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief, The Indian Express, said, “Vijay Pratap Singh was a fearless reporter. The Award instituted in his memory will salute the spirit and courage of jornalism that does not give way even under tremendous pressure and seeks out the truth at all cost.”

The entries for all award categories were judged by a panel of 11 eminent jury members, which included Infosys mentor and founder Narayan Murthy; senior Supreme Court advocate Fali S Nariman; Rajya Sabha member MS Swaminathan; HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh; former Cabinet Secretary Naresh Chandra; film director Shyam Benegal; TV interviewer and coloumnist Karan Thapar; HT Media Chairperson and Editorial Director Shobhana Bhartia; marketing consultant Rama Bijapurkar; Mahindra and Mahindra Chairman Kesub Mahindra; and former IIM Director Bakul H Dholakia.

The list of Award winners for the year 2010 is as follows: