"Issues confronting the contemporary society must be debated and the 21st century provides media that opportunity to address the challenges faced by it," he said addressing the inaugural function of the first-ever Indian Newspaper Congress here.
"In terms of giving attention to rural or real India, we have failed completely. And it is shameful," Sibal said.
He said there are challenges confronting the media, but the Fourth Estate should not consider itself in isolation.
"The society, even at the global level, is turning towards a change. But what is important at this crucial juncture is to understand the reasons for that change and methods to deal with it," Sibal said.
"The time has come to retrospect the reality. You (media) should look to the future. And that future lies in taking the cause of the poor and the methods which can work for their betterment," he said.
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Sibal said in order to have a transparent democracy, there should be freedom of the press and free flow of ideas.
The Minister termed the growth of electronic media as a "revolution" but said, "with this, the recipient of the news has become passive".