CHENNAI: Modern journalism, despite its many aberrations, is the most effective monitor and upholder of democratic values, University of Madras Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran said on Wednesday.

Presiding over the inaugural function of the national seminar on "investigative journalism: Issues and Practices" organised under the auspices of Department of Criminology, he said media was powerful not only to influence public opinion, but also provided guidelines in governance of society to the policy-makers.

Media whether print or electronic has a capacity to sensationalise issues or events. Largely, the focus of media is good to society and it offered opportunity to the government agencies for correctional measures.

On the investigative journalism or sting operation, he said journalists should take more care, as the impact would be enormous. The use of advanced technology that intruded into the privacy of VIPs was distasteful, he pointed.

In his address (read out in absentia) Information Minister Parithi Ellamvazhuthi said the dimension of investigative journalism was getting broader and outlined the scope for web-based and mobile journalism in the future. He called for greater focus on issues such as atrocities on Dalits, women and children.

Technical sessions

Technical sessions with themes including investigative journalism: an overview, crime reporting and writing in various forms of media, relevance of photo journalism in crime reporting and forensic journalism and criminal justice agencies were discussed in which journalists from various print and electronic media participated. Earlier, Department of Criminology Head R. Thilagaraj welcomed the gathering. Seminar director M. Priyamvatha proposed a vote of thanks.

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