KCR calls upon media to shun sensationalism

The Chief Minister recalled that during the time when A Dharma Rao was Speaker, he spoke for almost 61 minutes on agricultural issues, but the newspapers of that time provided only a space of two lines for that. On the contrary, if he had tossed a book on to the Chief Minister, it would have caught headlines of all the newspapers

Hyderabad: Calling upon the media to shun sensationalism, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao wondered why important issues get ignored. Speaking at the launch of Telugu newspaper Nava Telangana on Saturday, KCR illustrated his observation by saying that uproar in the Assembly becomes major news and grabs the headlines of all newspapers, while serious discussions do not find proper place.

Narrating his own experience, he said when he had put in lot of efforts to talk to experts in agriculture and scientists to learn many new techniques in agriculture and practised them, it did not attract the attention of any media but if he threw a book at the Chair, it would appear with screaming headlines. This outlook needs to be changed, the Chief Minister suggested.

He expressed happiness over two Left affiliated newspapers known as Vishalandra and Prajashakti transforming themselves as Mana Telangana and Nava Telangana. He lamented that the current state of journalism was reduced to sensationalism. The Chief Minister recalled that during the time when A Dharma Rao served as speaker, he spoke for almost 61 minutes on agricultural issues, but the newspapers of that time provided only a space of two lines for that.

On the contrary, if he had tossed a book on to the Chief Minister, it would have caught headlines of all the newspapers. There is a need for public debate on the issues and priority of subjects covered by newspapers. Intellectuals, experts and columnists must seriously ponder over this, he said.

The Chief Minister has called upon the print and electronic media to stand for the weaker and poorer sections of society. Asian School of Journalism Chairman Sashi Kumar, who was the main speaker, recalled that during the time of Independence several newspapers were functioning with the sole purpose of supporting freedom struggle. In contrast, today’s newspapers were functioning only to control things and to meet their selfish ends. Hence, to counter corporate journalism, there was a need for alternative journalism, he said.