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Monday, Apr 25, 2005

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Journalism is a mission: Pachauri

By Our Staff Correspondent

`Media may lose its editorial edge'

HIS VIEWS: The Union Minister of State for Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs, Suresh Pachauri, addressing a seminar on `Role of Media' in Bhopal on Sunday. Photo: A.M. Faruqui.

BHOPAL: APRIL 24. The Union Minister of State for Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs, Suresh Pachauri today said that media would lose its editorial edge if business interests start dominating it.

Mr. Pachauri was addressing a seminar on "Role of Media in Shaping Politics" organised here today to mark the first anniversary of the Bhopal edition of The Pioneer. He said that journalism is a mission and should not be taken as a profession.

Mr. Pachauri said that the media should only reflect the prevailing situation and the hopes and aspirations of the people. He said that the media had played a significant role during the Freedom movement and talked about that lasting impact of the writings of Makhanlal Chaturvedi in `Karmabhumi', Jawaharlal Nehru in `National Herald' and Bal Gangadhar Tilak in `Kesri.' Both the electronic and print media would now have to define their role and play a dominant part in carrying forward our social movement, he added.

Mr. Pachauri said that meaningful and important parliamentary debates on issues like unemployment, poverty alleviation and population control often get sidelined and what is mostly projected by the media is the noise, din and protest inside the House.

Speaking on this occasion, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Babulal Gaur also recalled the role played by the stalwarts of the Freedom movement like Balgangadhar Tilak, Subash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi. He particularly cited the example of Mahatma Gandhi and said that he was a towering personality who had spread the message of non-violence and infused the spirit of nationalism.

Mr. Gaur said that the spirit of nationalism goes beyond narrow party lines and gave the example of the former Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao saying that he had done the basic ground-work for a nuclear test but the Pokhran detonations had been cleared by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when he succeeded him as Prime Minister.

Mr. Gaur said that the media tends to blow up the problem of corruption beyond proportions. It is not the masses but only some intellectuals, politicians and journalists who get embroiled in corruption, he said in lighter vain and expressed concern over declining values when it comes upholding the principles of honesty and non-violence.

He said that media should be like a mirror and play a constrictive role. Development would not be possible without media playing its positive role, he added.

He cited the example of the American media and said that not a single dead body had been shown after the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers of New York, whereas "we go overboard in showing gruesome scenes of communal violence".

Mr. Gaur said that media can play a role in projecting the State capital as an island of peace and also highlighting the scenic beauty of Bhopal's Upper Lake.

The editor of The Pioneer, Chandan Mitra said at the outset that media's job is to inform, promote a dialogue between various sections of society, give voice to the hopes and aspirations of the people and mediate between conflicting groups. Media has a significant role to play if the country has to move on the democratic path, he added.

The Director General of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism said in his speech that media has played a significant role in strengthening democracy and promoting regional development. However it has not been able to influence politics to the desired level, he added.

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Journalism is a mission: Pachauri