MARGAO: The Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Vijai Sardessai and his journalist brother-in-law Raju Nayak have expressed opposing views of the impact of social media on journalism.
Raju Nayak, who is the editor of Lokmat (Goa edition), asserted that social media was not a threat to journalism at least for the next 25 years. However, Sardessai said that the world was fast losing trust in journalism and turning more towards social media.
Speaking at the Journalists Day celebrations organised by South Goa Journalists Association at Ravindra Bhavan on Sunday, Vijai said journalists are the biggest threat to journalism as fake news, altered news and paid news has become the new trend.
“Journalist activism is becoming a trend in Goa and the question one has to ask is whether it is right as then the newspaper no longer is the voice of the people but that of a certain section and would obfuscate the truth,” he said.
Admitting that journalists have to be anti-establishment, he said that sometimes when the government does something good it has to be patted also. He also cautioned against sensationalizing news.
“Journalists should stop playing to the gallery and report facts accurately and be very cautious of the various attempts being made to malign Goa in the international media,” he said pointing out that sensationalizing the Scarlett case damaged tourism in Goa.
Delivering the key note address Raju Nayak admitted the social media is growing quite fast but asserted that it would not be a threat to journalism as a report of a journalist is vetted by many people before it is published while social media is just a mean to ventilate an individual’s opinion.
He also lamented that some newspapers have stopped publishing the editorial page and many publishers are asking editors to drop it as not many people read it.
However, Vijai speaking later said “readers are bunking the editorial page because it is not worthy of reading.”
Raju stressed the need to protect Goa in totality and not as desired by certain section and urged journalists to present the facts accurately to people.
Former chief minister Digambar Kamat, recollecting his interaction with various journalists, said that media can also play a positive role and appreciated the support given to him by journalists when the wholesale fish market was shifted to Fatorda.
Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudessai, urging journalists not to sensationalise news, said journalism will continue to be the fourth pillar of democracy and that despite various changes, the print media is still relevant.
