By TwoCircles.net News Desk,
New Delhi: Concerned over the news reports that media organizations are offered packages by industrial houses and political parties to cover their events and election campaigns and thus influencing media’s independence, veteran journalists have decided to initiate a discussion on the narrowing independence and freedom of the media.
In an attempt to not just analyze the current situation but to put together a plan of action that could help restore the independence of the fourth estate, the Centre for Policy Analysis, an alternative policy group, has decided to bring together representatives of the media at a seminar in New Delhi to discuss The Role of the Media: Where Do We Go From Here.
“There is growing concern and worry about the manner in which the independence and freedom of the media is being compromised by business houses and money power. The “packages” being offered openly to newspapers and television channels by corporate houses and political parties for the coverage of elections is yet another indication of the shackles being imposed on the media with a direct impact on the coverage of poverty, insurgencies, communal violence and the day to day issues that dominate an ordinary citizen’s life,” said senior journalist Seema Mustafa who also heads Centre for Policy Analysis.
“We are aware that some meetings have already been held and hope that we will all be able to pool together our resources and efforts to save the media,” she said
Kuldip Nayar, veteran journalist who has been a strong advocate for the independence of the media, has agreed to chair the seminar. Senior editors and columnists who have agreed to initiate the discussion on the issue include Vinod Mehta, Bharat Bhushan, Saeed Naqvi and Praful Bidwai.
At the seminar to be held on November 14 at India International Centre in New Delhi, a journal on Media In Peril will be released. The journal will have articles from senior journalists with long experience in the field.