PM seeks review of media policy

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday sought a review of the media policy in the context of the information revolution and liberalisation in order to ensure a suitable framework for freedom of competition in the media sector. We need to ensure that there is a suitable framework for freedom of competition to be meaningful for all players in the media sector, he said at the 10 th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Women''s Press Corps (IWPC) here. The Prime Minister said, A review of our media policy is therefore necessary, both in the context of changes consequent to the information revolution and in light of the incremental process of opening of the Indian economy.â€� Observing that a group of ministers had been constituted on the media policy to advise the government on how to create a fair and balanced policy framework , Singh said, Our government welcomes the possibility of discussing the policy towards investment in our media with representative bodies like the Women''s Press Corps. Lamenting that the Indian media still has some distance to traverse to ensure genuine gender equality , the Prime Minister made a strong plea for creating a congenial, safe and equitable working environment in the media sector. I would also include the goal of ensuring that there is adequate space for the representation of women''s views by the media. Ensuring a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women is one of the strategic objectives of women participating in the media sector, he said. Since the eventual role was to create a fair society, free of biases on the basis of gender , the Prime Minister said the government had a broader and substantial role in this regard â€“ from ensuring that women were equipped with basic ability to compete as equals in the job market to ensuring that rules to prevent offensive portrayals of women were enforced. Asserting that his government was committed to realise these fundamental objectives, he, however, said in a democratic society, government should not arrogate to itself the right to dictate values. These must be evolved consensually, along with social and political education.â€� Singh also stressed that the media should seriously address the questions of professionalism, of objectivity and balance in reportage and in commentary . He asked media bodies like the IWPC to monitor how our press balances, in its day-to-day reportage, the rights it enjoys through the freedom of the press and the duties that are implicit in the principles of fair play and objectivity, professional integrity and excellenceâ€�. The Prime Minister said he had little doubt that greater professionalism could be ensured by allowing the winds of competition to blow freely across all sectors of the media . Maintaining that the years ahead would be an exciting time to be in India, he said, We have never before been better posed to take advantage of our potential as a people and as a nation.â€� Singh said, in the process of creating a modern, progressive and dynamic society built on a rapidly growing economy, the media had a crucial role in tracking this process through your reportage and your criticisms . While politicians do not necessarily relish the latter, since we cannot do without the former, we look forward to the continued interaction between government and media, he quipped provoking laughter among the audience. The Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur, also witnessed a short satirical skit on journalism and women in the profession. Several senior politicians, top officials and media personalities were present on the occasion.

PM seeks review of media policy

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday sought a review of the media policy in the context of the information revolution and liberalisation in order to ensure a suitable framework for "freedom of competition" in the media sector.

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