Win the Challenge of Fearless Journalism with Professionalism: CM D.K. Shivakumar

Share

Share

Share

Share

Email

Share

Bengaluru : Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that fearless journalism has become an extremely challenging task in the present era, emphasizing that principled professionalism is the need of the hour to overcome these modern hurdles. He made these remarks while inaugurating the Press Day celebrations organized jointly by the Karnataka Media Academy and the Karnataka Working Journalists Association at Gandhi Bhavan.

The Chief Minister observed that society benefits when journalists work in alignment with professional values, ethics, and their conscience, adding that the journalism sector urgently needs to distance itself from the menace of fake news. Expressing his displeasure over misleading media coverage, he shared a recent personal incident where he went to a hospital in the morning for a routine health check-up, but some television channels falsely broadcasted that he had been formally admitted to the hospital, calling it completely fabricated news.

He also criticized past reportage from the Mekedatu padayatra, recalling how a moment when he was physically exhausted and jostled by party workers was intentionally misrepresented by certain sections of the media as him walking under the influence of alcohol. He criticized this as a deliberate attempt to send a wrong and malicious message to the public.

Advising the media fraternity, the Chief Minister said that they should freely expose any genuine mistakes he makes, but begged them not to publish or broadcast outright lies. He noted that until a report is published, it belongs solely to the journalist, but once it is out, it becomes the property of society, meaning every piece of news must carry absolute truth and honesty. He reminded the gathering that many great personalities, including Mahatma Gandhi, elevated the dignity of journalism as editors and writers, and called upon the present generation to carry forward that rich legacy.

Abdussalam Puthige, the editor of Varthabharati, delivered the keynote address at the event. The program saw the presence of several dignitaries, including Purushottama Bilimale, Chairman of the Kannada Development Authority; Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao; R. Poornima, President of the Karnataka Media Women’s Association; Ayesha Khanum, Chairperson of the Karnataka Media Academy; Shivananda Tagadur, State President of the Karnataka Working Journalists Association; and Anucheth, Commissioner of the Department of Information and Public Relations.