Early Times Report
SHIMLA, Oct 16: Governor Kavinder Gupta today emphasised that free, independent and responsible journalism is essential for a healthy democracy, calling upon the media to uphold truth, credibility and public interest while addressing emerging social challenges.
The Governor was speaking as the Chief Guest at the Gems of Himachal Awards-2026, organised by News 09 channel in Shimla. He said that the role of the media extended beyond reporting events, as it also helped shape public consciousness, informed citizens and served as an important link between the government and society.
He observed that the true measure of a media organisation's success lay not merely in its broadcast reach, readership or viewership, but in how effectively it represented diverse voices, highlighted public concerns responsibly and brought positive initiatives to the attention of society.
Highlighting the transformative impact of digital technology, artificial intelligence and social media, Shri Gupta said that news could now reach millions of people within moments. While these developments had created new opportunities for public communication, they had also brought serious challenges, including misinformation, unverified reports, manipulated videos and AI-generated fake content that could undermine public trust and social harmony.
He said that in the race to break news, reaching people with accurate information was far more important than being the first to report an event. The media, he added, should prioritise truth over sensationalism, solutions over negativity, and dialogue over divisive narratives.
The Governor clarified that responsible journalism did not mean concealing problems or avoiding criticism. Rather, it required reporting issues with factual accuracy, balance and an unwavering commitment to public interest.
Referring to contemporary concerns, the Governor said that rising substance abuse among youth, the safety of women and children, environmental protection, cybercrime, misleading content on digital platforms and the preservation of social harmony were issues in which the media could play a particularly significant role.
"While free journalism is the strength of democracy, responsible journalism provides wisdom to that strength," the Governor observed, emphasising that both were essential for a vibrant democratic system.
The Governor said that the vision of Viksit Bharat would be meaningful only when the benefits of development reached the last person in society and citizens became more aware of their duties and responsibilities.
He said that the media could make a valuable contribution by disseminating accurate information about government schemes and public welfare initiatives while also responsibly highlighting questions concerning their implementation. Such an approach, he added, would strengthen public awareness, accountability and participatory governance. |
