PCI chief pitches for code of conduct

PCI chief pitches for code of conduct
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Highlights

The Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman, Justice C K Prasad, on Thursday stressed the need for code of conduct for journalists. He said such a code of conduct would help the professionals in knowing what the legal position was and what misconduct could be.

Hyderabad: The Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman, Justice C K Prasad, on Thursday stressed the need for code of conduct for journalists. He said such a code of conduct would help the professionals in knowing what the legal position was and what misconduct could be.

  • Codification of code of conduct will help journalists, Press Council of India Chairman Justice C K Prasad says
  • He urges journalist to be always in conflict with the governments
  • The day when the media has cordial relations with the authorities, it is the saddest day, he adds

Speaking at a seminar ‘Ethics in Contemporary Journalism,’ jointly organised by Telangana State Union of Working Journalists, Veteran Journalists Association and Media Education Foundation (MEF) here at Press Club, he said the code of conduct was being opposed by the journalistic community and the unions.

“I appeal to the members of the community to reconsider your stand. Because, if there is no code and if there are no statutory guidelines, I am of the opinion that you are more vulnerable and exposed to whims and fancies of others. if it is codified, you will know what the legal position is and what misconduct is.”

Justice Prasad said the existing contract system of employment in journalism was not helping the profession and added that the system was affecting the right to express. “In contract system the services of the journalists depend on the whims of the employer. According to me, the contract system does not help the profession as a whole. Even if they are in contract, they must be covered by the working journalists Act,” Justice Prasad said.

“I will request media to be in conflict with the authorities and oppose the idea of cordial relationship. If there is no conflict then that day will be the saddest day of democracy,” he said. He added that the journalists were crusaders of truth and credibility. The media is not managed by the editors but by the managers, who are interested in the balance sheet of profit and loss account. The ultimate authority of the media or newspaper should be in the hands of professional editors.

IJU General Secretary K Srinivas Reddy said three factors were affecting the functioning. They included attitude of government, conflicts between managements and editors and increasing attacks on journalists. He stressed the need to form a media commission. IJU President S L Sinha, PCI members Prakash Dube, Varadachary and others were also present.

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