At a time when the role of the media in the country has come under the scanner, President Pranab Mukherjee has sounded a word of caution and reminded the fourth pillar of democracy that “it must play the role of a watchdog”, and hold public representatives, as well private representatives, “accountable for their actions and inaction”.
The President was addressing the second Ramnath Goenka lecture in the national capital on Thursday.
With the country witnessing multiple attacks related to cow vigilantism and other issues, Mukherjee repeated what he has been saying lately: “Spirit of tolerance is what makes us Indians. I have always believed that the bedrock of Indian civilisation has been its pluralism and its social, cultural, linguistic and racial diversity. As I have said on many occasions earlier, discussion and dissension are crucial for a vibrant democracy”.
“There should always be room for the argumentative Indian but not for the intolerant Indian,” he added.
The role of the media has increasingly come under question with the advent of social media. Mukherjee said: “The downside of the advent of social media is that the sheer size and volume of data available is that the information remains unfiltered and unmediated, and in many cases it is unchecked. Good journalism separates facts from data and shows accuracy, context and makes sure that the public can be better informed”.
The President reminded the journalistic fraternity of the cardinal principle of fact-checking. “I believe that fact-checking is one of the most significant roles that the media can play in the contemporary spaces. At the centre now, the media needs to play its role with greater responsibility and utmost respect for facts,” he said.
“The average citizen has been truly empowered in their ability to speak out and find out. The downside is the sheer scale and volume of data and information means that available today remains unfiltered and unmediated in many cases even unchecked,” he added.
On how the media can give voice to the marginalised and the week, the President said: “In particular the media should provide a voice to the marginalised of the society. It has to highlight all the inequalities”.
