Journalists must act as eyes and ears of society: Expert

Media must not try to become power-centers but act as the eyes and ears of the society by truthfully reporting the developments in a country, said BRP Bhaskar, a senior Indian journalist and a human rights activist on Thursday. Making a keynote speech on the emerging trends in media at the annual media conference of the Malayali Media Forum (MMF), Kuwait, he said, the new trend of looking at newspapers as yet another market products is not untenable. “The media has the power to influence the thought process of a person and help mold his or her opinion. This quality makes the fourth estate different from other institutions and a media organization distinct from other corporate entities,” he said.

At the same time we have to realize the fact that there are power-centers outside governments. Today, many media houses dole out news reports from their own ivory towers under the false impression that the society is helpless without them. On the contrary, people are realizing their power today. “People are gradually attaining media literacy as evident in the emergence of the social media today so that they are able to decode the destiny of the media houses looking at their quality in discerning truthful and responsible news reports,” he added.

Indian Ambassador Sunil Jain as chief guest inaugurated the conference. MMF General Convener Sam Painumoodu presided over the conference. Program Convener Nixon George introduced the guest of honor while Abdul Fattah Thayyil presented the first copy of the annual souvenir to Bhaskar who in turn released it. Convenor Ismayeel Payyoli welcomed the gathering and Salim Kottayil proposed a vote of thanks. A music show led by Biju Thikkodi and Rafi Calicut entertained the invited guests at the Community Auditorium, Jleeb Al-Shoyoukh. Bhaskar also held a media workshop for MMF members from 10 am to 4 pm on Friday.