Journalism must return to ground reporting, investigative work to regain public trust: N Ram
Hyderabad, Aug 23 (TNT): Journalism must return to its core principles of ground reporting, investigative journalism, long-form writing and explanatory reporting to rebuild public trust in the media, The Hindu Group Director and veteran journalist N Ram said on Sunday.
Speaking at a panel discussion during the National Conclave of the Federation of Press Clubs in Hyderabad, Ram stressed the need for stronger self-regulation mechanisms within the media and transparent codes of conduct for journalists.
He called for the inclusion of media literacy in school curricula, preferably at the middle or secondary level, to help students critically understand news and information consumption.
Ram said self-regulatory bodies should comprise journalists and eminent media personalities rather than serving editors or media owners.
Professional codes of conduct should have legislative backing through laws enacted by Parliament, he suggested.
The appointment of news ombudsmen could also play an important role in maintaining journalistic standards and restoring public confidence in the media, he said.
Referring to the changing media landscape, Ram said the expansion of digital platforms and YouTube channels would not diminish the relevance of traditional journalistic practices.
Instead, he said the digital era made adherence to basic reporting principles even more important.
“Investigative journalism is the forte of print journalism,” Ram said, underlining the importance of long-form writing, data journalism and explanatory reporting in strengthening the credibility of print media.
He also expressed concerns over the impact of media ownership patterns on journalistic standards and advocated reader-supported models for sustaining independent journalism.
He cited alternative media platforms such as Alt News and The Wire as examples of emerging models.
Alt News co-founder and editor Pratik Sinha, who was part of the panel, said journalism required new economic models involving both journalists and readers.
Sinha said readers should be encouraged to understand the value of journalism by critically engaging with news content published by established newspapers on digital platforms.
He also suggested introducing younger audiences to physical newspapers through video-based formats.
Syeda Faiza Kirmani, Digital Desk Editor of The Siasat Daily, highlighted the continued relevance of print media in providing accurate and detailed information.
The panel discussion, moderated by journalist Uma Sudhir, also deliberated on the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation, including their spread through vested interests, political organisations and communal groups.
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