Media shouldn't combine news and views: VP Venkaiah Naidu

Recalling the contribution of several journalists during the independence movement, who considered the profession their mission, he said these days, while some were practising journalism as a mission, some were "commissioning it as an industry".

Speaking at the third convocation of Kushabhau Thakre Patrakarita Avam Jansanchar Vishwavidyalaya at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay auditorium here, Naidu said the front page of a newspaper should contain news, while views should be restricted to the editorial page.

The media should dedicate itself to a new TRP philosophy -- promotion of truth in a responsible and professional manner -- he added.

One should not mix up news and views, because ultimately, the judgement had to be made by the people, the vice-president said.

He stressed that "information with confirmation" was the most powerful ammunition in the fight against injustice, social evils and the negative forces in the world.

Pointing out that phrases like "breaking news", "making news", "good news" or "bad news" were frequent in the electronic media nowadays, Naidu said news should not be for "breaking, but joining".

He said those who not allow Parliament to function should not be given prominence in the media.

"But unfortunately, what is happening because of the electronic media is, if they break a microphone, throw papers or create some other problem, they get prominence," the vice-president said.

The media should raise awareness on the maladies afflicting the society such as casteism, communalism, corruption and atrocities against women, he said.

Lamenting that the colonial rule had changed our mindset, Naidu called for encouraging the use of mother tongue.

Stating that every state must first promote the local language, then Hindi and then English, the vice-president hoped that those taking care of the education system in the country would also follow it.

Expressing concern over incidents of crime against women, he said, "This has not been the tradition of our country, where women had always been given the utmost respect since the ancient period. The rivers in the country were named after women," he noted.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Assembly Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal and other state ministers were present on the occasion.