‘Media not free from shadow of corruption’

Mysuru:  “Corruption questions the very integrity and credibility of a person and even media is not free from the shadow of corruption,” said senior journalist H.R. Ranganath rather curiously. Delivering the keynote address at a seminar on ‘Media: Future Challenges’ at the 83rd Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, here on Friday, he said that along with drawing boundaries for the profession, one should also draw the same boundaries in one’s life. It is the responsibility of every journalist to cultivate this otherwise, the confidence that people have in the journalists will nosedive. If the media falters or loses its way, then democratic setup will also suffer, he added. Journalist N. Ravishankar speaking on the subject ‘Social Media’ said that on a couple of occasions it is unfortunate to see the social media questioning the morality of Kannadigas. It looks like the growth of Kannada is suffering because of the flippant way certain Kannada words are used in social media. Social media cannot replace regular media, he added. Speaking on the subject ‘Print Media,’ journalist N. Udayakumar said credibility of the media is a big challenge. The way technology is changing day-by-day, sometimes pose as big questions. TV viewers and internet users are increasing and majority of the newspapers have still not reached the limits of its circulation. Senior journalist Thimmappa Bhat who presided over the seminar said that media is considered as the fourth pillar of democracy. The media has not got any sort of Constitutional validity until now. The confidence reposed by the people from the beginning is all that it has as its capital. Hence, if media and democracy have to be alive and kicking, they cannot be unidirectional, he argued.