Media has become a commodity. It is failing to play its role of a Fourth Estate effectively, observed Press Council of India chairman Justice G N Ray.
Speaking on ‘Changing face of India media’ on the occasion of National Press Day here on Monday, Ray said media was now driven by market forces and was resorting to trivialisation and sensationalisation. “The focus is not on making newspaper rich in news content for improving socio-economic disparities,” he said.
Concerns of weaker segments of society were not projected appropriately, he said adding corporatisation of media houses would lead to monopoly in media.
According to him, ‘trial by media’ of subjudice matters and incorrect reporting of court proceedings have become a disturbing phenomenon. The paid news syndrome too was gaining popularity. Some media involved in misinformation and tainted communication to augment greater profits to their managements, he said, adding the role of editors in deciding the content of the newspaper has been marginalised in the recent times.
Ray said a body on the lines of Medical Council of India and All India Council of Technical Education should be formed with powers to disaffiliate journalism institutes.
