By TCN News,
Hyderabad: Media is supposed to safeguard the public interest & work as watchdog in a democracy. However, in the present scenario its role and credibility have been eroded and it has become a tool & stooge of Corporate World. These were the views of speakers at a seminar on “Media & Corporate World: Challenges & Opportunities”, organized here by Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU).
Prominent Journalists Mir Ayoob Ali Khan (Times of India), Mr. Amir Ali Khan (Siasat), Mr. M.A. Majid (Etemaad), Dr. Hyder Reza Adil (M.D. Munsif T.V.) and Mr. Fazil Hussain Parwez (Gawah Urdu Weekly) were among the speakers. Prof. S.A. Wahab, presided over the seminar and Mr. Mustafa Ali Sarwari, HoD, Dept. of Mass Communication & Journalism, MANUU, was the Convenor. The program was organized by the Dept.
Many of the speakers, mostly from Urdu press, were of the view that Urdu media to a larger extent is out of the influence of corporate world, since it does not attract them. Corporate world is completely driven by its own motives and goals. Whereas Urdu media is community based. Unethical and immoral news between the corporate world & media shall be discouraged & avoided, the speakers said. This sort of news results in scams and scandals such as 2G spectrum etc.
Speakers felt that a balanced approach is required to utilize the opportunities offered by the Corporate World. Corporate institutions shall not induce the media in unethical practices to attain their goals, otherwise they would be accused of shunning their social responsibilities.