‘Media should be Modi’s partner in Viksit Bharat mission’: Anurag Thakur expresses concern over fake news, anti-India bias

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, while addressing the Storyboard18 DNPA conclave and awards ceremony 2024 on Tuesday, urged Indian media to become Narendra Modi by 2047 Modi’s Viksit Bharat mission.

He also urged media entities to engage in “reflection and introspection to protect themselves from the dangers of infodemics”. Thakur added that fake news is a concern not only for the government but also for the news media.

“With digital platforms, the news of India’s progress is reaching the world”

“The past decade has seen unprecedented developments in technology and digital media, which have profoundly impacted every aspect of our lives,” Thakur said.

“We have witnessed the most significant technological advances in human history. From the birth of the World Wide Web to the widespread use of mobile phones, our journey from the 20th century to the 21st century has been nothing short of revolutionary. Today, we have gone from waiting months for SIM Cards are transitioning to the touch screen era and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been helping us achieve this transition through a series of policies and initiatives over the years. Be it UPI payments or DigiLocker, the list goes on and on,” the minister said.

The minister also commended journalists for the way they support the government in spreading awareness on various topics including policies, plans and all other central initiatives. “We appreciate the way our journalists are working as karma yogis amid the pandemic. While we sit at home, they are reporting from across the country and spreading awareness. Journalists have also played a role in the success of government initiatives like Swachch Bharat Very important role,” Thakur said.

“Self-regulation does not mean allowing intentional mistakes”

The media’s expansion also comes with caveats, Thakur said. “Much of media governance is self-regulation. But self-regulation does not mean allowing deliberate mistakes. Media entities must engage in reflection and self-examination to protect themselves from the dangers of the infodemic. Democracies around the world recognize this challenge , but the real mission is to combat the spread of misinformation and infodemics,” Thakur said.

The Minister also spoke about recent milestones such as the Publications and Periodicals Registration Act, which seeks to replace the existing Publications and Books Registration Act, 1867. Now it is up to journalists to use the power of the pen to showcase India to the world. Continuous development, upgrading and retraining are crucial, coupled with judicious use of technology,” the minister said.

“Differences of opinion are acceptable, but our commitment to Indianness should be unwavering. I urge our friends in the media to be our partners in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047,” he added.

“Some foreign media organizations with anti-India bias”

“Responsible, fair and balanced news reporting should be practiced but unfortunately some foreign media houses operate with an anti-India bias. The fabricated reports by these media outlets harm the image of the country as well as the image of credible media in the country. It must be investigated Identify them and call the police,” Thakur said.

“Our party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, upholds freedom of expression and autonomy of the press and will continue to support it in the years to come, but journalists should focus on disseminating news rather than creating it,” he added.

“The emergence of digital platforms in India has facilitated the global dissemination of news about the country’s progress. This should continue. Healthy discussion and debate are always encouraged and while there may be differences of opinion, reporting should always adhere to fairness,” Thakur explain.

“So we recommend making the most of technology. Embracing technology is helpful and we are united in supporting the development and implementation of policies around technology,” he said.

“A strong and vibrant media ecosystem is critical to realizing VIKSIT BHARAT’s vision by 2047”

After the event, Thakur took to X to share his thoughts on the event and this digital era in general. “I am delighted to be part of the DNPA Conclave and Awards Ceremony 2024, celebrating outstanding digital initiatives that have profoundly contributed to the advancement of Bharat… Congratulations to all winners and heartfelt thanks to the organizers and jury members of Storyboard18 for their contribution Thanks for standing out on our digital journey and recognizing those pioneers who have set global standards for innovation and excellence,” he wrote.

“In an era defined by technology, digital media plays a key role in nation-building; creating awareness at the grassroots level about government initiatives, providing credible content, and practicing responsible journalism. In a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Under the visionary leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, technology has become a tool to empower citizens and access public services. The government recognizes the role of media and its role in transforming society. A strong and vibrant media ecosystem is vital to It is crucial to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. I also urge the media industry to embark on this journey and let us together shape a brighter future and a well-informed society.”

“The credibility of news and platform is as important as monetization challenges”

Thakur said the credibility of news platforms is at the forefront of the debate over content quality and ease of monetization.

Acknowledging that digital news publishers’ profit models are at odds with big tech platforms’ incentives for speed, clickbait content and user engagement, Thakur said: “The challenge is not limited to the digital media space; it extends to print and television as well. . Whether it’s the urgency of breaking news on television or updates on various other platforms, the common denominator is the need for effective regulation and self-regulation.”

“Print, television and digital media are all committed to self-regulation. While we are willing to consider any recommended policy changes, it is important to recognize that the responsibility for delivering trustworthy news is shared by actors of all sizes. Think It’s unfair for smaller entities to have less liability than larger entities because they involve fewer shares,” he said.

The minister also highlighted the key issue of monetization difficulties and how foreign companies operating behind opaque algorithms pose a challenge to digital news publishers. “We are formulating policies to address digital advertising issues and ensure that no loss of revenue occurs,” the minister assured.