Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has raised concerns over what he described as the declining ethical standards of news reporting in the state. Speaking at an event organised by the Senior Journalists Forum Kerala, he said the relationship between journalists and public representatives had also changed significantly compared with the past.
Satheesan stressed the need for the media to examine the direction in which journalism is heading. He pointed to instances where inaccurate reports are not corrected, but are instead followed by attempts to reinforce the original claims.
The Chief Minister also criticised the practice of creating news when there is little substantive material to report. He said Kerala's audience is capable of identifying such reporting and often responds by ridiculing it.
Satheesan clarified that criticism of political leaders or governments is an essential part of journalism. However, he cautioned that crossing ethical boundaries could undermine public trust in the profession.
He also expressed concern over the growing competition among mainstream media organisations to build credibility and ratings through sensational coverage. Calling for greater responsibility in journalism, he urged senior journalists to guide the profession towards more ethical and credible reporting.
