Return to fundamentals key to media regaining public trust, says N. Ram
At the National Conclave of the Federation of Press Clubs in Hyderabad on Sunday, eminent journalist and Director of The Hindu Group, N. Ram, called for a return to the fundamentals of journalism — ground reporting, investigative journalism, long-form journalism and explanatory writing — as a way for the media to regain public trust. He also urged the introduction of media literacy in school curricula at the middle or secondary level to help students understand and critically evaluate news and information.
Speaking on a panel, Ram stressed the need for transparent codes of conduct for journalists, independent self-regulation and a statutory framework for regulation. "I think it really helps to build trust. Then it comes to self-regulation for the whole industry," he said.
Ram said self-regulatory mechanisms should comprise journalists and respected media personalities, rather than serving editors or proprietors. He also suggested that codes of conduct should have the backing of legislation enacted by Parliament, and that appointing a news ombudsman could help maintain journalistic standards and restore public trust.
Addressing the changing media landscape, Ram said the rise of digital platforms and YouTube channels would not replace conventional journalistic practices. Instead, the media needed to return to the basic principles of reporting in the digital era. "Investigative journalism is forte of print journalism. Long-form writing, data reporting and explanatory reports could help the print media strengthen its credibility," he said.
Ram also expressed concern over the impact of media ownership on journalistic standards and advocated reader-funded models of journalism. He cited successful news platforms, including Alt News and The Wire, as examples of alternative models.
Fellow panellist Pratik Sinha, co-founder and Editor at Alt News, stressed the need to develop new economic models for journalism involving both journalists and readers. "We need to use open-source software that helps run media organisations," he said, cautioning against excessive dependence on big technology companies. Sinha also said readers should be helped to understand the value of print journalism by critically analysing the news published by major newspapers on new media platforms, and suggested that introducing the physical newspaper to the new generation in video format would help.
Syeda Faiza Kirmani, Digital Desk Editor of The Siasat Daily, said print media continued to play an important role by providing in-depth and accurate information.
The panellists, participants and moderator Uma Sudhir discussed the growing spread of misinformation and deliberate disinformation, particularly by vested interests, political organisations and communal groups. Some participants expressed concern over the low wages paid to media professionals and high fees at media training colleges, and their impact on the quality and sustainability of journalism.