No Doubt a Fearless Press Is Back-Bone of a Healthy Democracy: CJI NV Ramana

(Judicial Quest News Network)

There is no doubt that a healthy democracy can thrive and survive only with a fearless and independent press. CJI NV Ramana said on Wednesday.

He (CJI)was delivering the keynote address while awarding the Mumbai Press Club’s RedInk Awards, he spoke about the pressures face by Journalists in the age of cut-throat competition and social  media amplification.

He further said that “As a key stakeholder in democracy, media has the duty to defend and protect the judiciary from motivated attacks by evil forces. We are together in the Mission Democracy and in promoting national interest. We have to sail together.”

Speaking virtually as Chief Guest at the 10 th anniversary of the Awards CJINV Ramana Said “Another trend that I witness in reporting nowadays, is the seeping of ideological stances and biases into the news story. Interpretation and opinions are colouring what should be factual reports. News mixed with views is a dangerous cocktail. Connected to this is the problem of partial reporting, of cherry-picking facts to give it a particular colour. For instance, select portions of a speech get highlighted – mostly out of context – to suit a certain agenda.”

He said that a journalist profession is as noble as a lawyer’s.

 There is no doubt that a healthy democracy can thrive and survive only with a fearless and independent press. For that, journalists like you need to grow in number. As someone who started his professional career as a journalist, I can understand your difficulties and struggles. Speaking truth to power and holding up a mirror to society, is an immense responsibility that is extremely difficult to fulfil. There is enormous pressure and stress upon you. In the contemporary world, performing your duty as a journalist is akin to dancing on razor’s edge. You are on your feet for long hours and constantly on call and working.

In his speech he also touched upon the changes in the field of Journalism due to the advent of digital media and social media.

CJI further emphasised upon the need to be an independent thinker and a bold person as a journalist to keep your ideological identity intact “Allowing yourself to be co-opted by an ideology or the State is a recipe for disaster. Journalists are like judges in one sense. Regardless of the ideology you profess and the beliefs you hold dear, you must do your duty without being influenced by them. You must report only the facts, with a view to give a complete and accurate picture.”

He also commented on the deadly combination of confrontational polity and competitive journalism can be lethal to democracy.

CJI also urged the journalists to be more sensitive when it comes to ideological instances

“Interpretation and opinions are colouring what should be factual reports. News mixed with views is a dangerous cocktail. Connected to this is the problem of partial reporting, of cherry-picking facts to give it a particular colour. For instance, select portions of a speech

get highlighted – mostly out of context – to suit a certain agenda.”

Another issue that has gained prominence recently, is linked to what is called the attention economy. In the hope of grabbing the eyeballs, the headlines that are given for news reports are catchy, but misleading. The headline is often unreflective of the actual content of the reports. It is interpretative and imaginary. The headlines are then

shared widely on social media, and become the news. The content is forgotten.

follow the principles of natural justice before making adverse comments against someone who is not in a position to defend himself. He opined.

He also said that the trend of publishing news before verification in the race for ratings, which leads to incorrect reporting.

Interestingly he also suggested the media houses to invest in specialists for reporting, especially legal reporting.

  He also urged that “The resourceful media houses in Delhi have their specialist legal editors covering the proceedings of the Supreme Court. When it comes to other Indian Language media and small media houses, it is the regular political reporter who doubles up as legal reporter whenever the necessity arises. To be able to inform the readers and viewers accurately, the media needs to invest on specialists.”

The CJI also paid his respect to Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui who was killed while covering clashes between Afghan Security forces and Taliban.

He said that (Danish Siddiqui) “I was a man with a magical eye and was rightly regarded as one of the foremost photojournalists of this era, if a picture can tell a thousand words, his photos ere novel, “the CJI said.