Speaking at a media seminar, titled “Injustices of Media Justice,” organized by the Jeddah chapter of the Risala Study Circle, managing editor of Pravasi Risala Magazine S. Sharafuddin said instead of reporting facts with objectivity, media outlets have become a tool in the hands of vested interests.
Sharafuddin was referring to the role of key media players in the now raging 2G spectrum scam in India. He said the kind of reprehensible actions on the part of media personnel, who are supposed to act as the guardians of democracy, is a serious matter that needs to be tackled.
He said the Press Council of India and The Editors’ Guild should come up with a response to the imbroglio, because the credibility of the Indian media is at stake.
Sharafuddin said even media observers have pointed out that the despicable way the media, especially broadcasters, celebrated the arrest of Abdul Naser Maadani in Kerala had raised serious doubts.
“Publishing reports without verifying facts with the sole aim of increasing ratings has become the norm today. Even media organizations admit that more than 75 percent of news reports that they broadcast are based on hearsay and gossip,” he said.
Sharafuddin said a media assuming the role of judge and encroaching upon the freedom of readers to reach their own conclusions should not be tolerated.
“This blatant aggression must be exposed and put on trial,” he said, adding that a serious debate is necessary on whether such media professionals deserve the impunity they enjoy in the name of freedom of expression.
All participants of the seminar agreed that ideal journalism is a combination of quality and realism.
Kasim Irikkur, A.M. Sajith, Hasan Saqafi Tharayittal, Abdul Rahman Vandoor, Nasar Veliyankode, K.T.A. Muneer, Rafeeq Pathanapuram, Aboo Backer Anwary, K.M. Basheer, Shareef Master Velimukku and Shabeer Maranjery also addressed the seminar.
Former SSF President K.T. Thahir Saqafi was the moderator. Shamsudheen Nizami presided over the program.
