TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Editorial Director and Editor-In-Chief of Times Now, Arnab Goswami, made a case for relevant journalism and the importance of taking a stand on issues that matters during the course of speech on the 2nd day of the Goafest 2015. He also felt that one did not have to be neutral or a fence sitter on issues.
“There is relevant journalism and there is irrelevant journalism. What we do is what I would call relevant journalism, that people watch, people respond to, that people say represents their voice,” said Goswami.
Arguing against the ‘neutrality’ approach, he said, “When facts stare at you in the face, you have to take a stand. Neutrality, when there is something wrong, becomes a weakness because it perpetuates a status quo.”
He added, “When a Nirbhaya or an India against Corruption happens, if you exercise ‘neutrality’, journalism has no impact. I don’t believe in journalism of no impact. That is self-serving journalism.”
During the course of the session he was attacked relentlessly for the brand of journalism he practiced. On the contention that his brand of journalism is actually activism, he retorted, “We need activist journalism in this country, not on political issues but on (relevant) social issues.”
“In this country, only when (they are) named and shamed that the powerful people who perpetrate injustice ever respond. We are activists in pursuit of the truth,” he added.
