By IANS,
New Delhi : The media should move beyond merely reporting “the here and now” and present the larger view of daily events and shape public opinion in a constructive manner, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Wednesday.
“If the media is confined only to ‘the here and now’, it ceases to play the role of the Fourth Estate. That important role is claimed only when the media is able to take a larger view of daily events, shape public opinion in a constructive way and record history even as it is being made,” Manmohan Singh said at the launch of “Tribune 125 years – an anthology”, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Tribune newspaper.
“The combination of providing news, of shaping views and guiding societies is what gives the media a special status in a democracy,” he said.
Manmohan Singh said that democracy is India’s biggest strength.
“I do believe it has worked on the whole in the interest of our people. Our media has been an important healer of our democracy and I sincerely hope it will continue to play a constructive role in nation building, reinforcing the knowledge of our society and the confidence of our people,” he said.
He also expressed the hope that this book will inspire a new generation of journalists to dedicate themselves to the highest standards of professionalism and journalism.