New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that the greatest challenge before media in a free society is how to retain its credibility.
Addressing mediapersons after conferring 'National Awards for Excellence in Journalism' 2018 here, on the occasion of National Press Day, Mr Jaitley said that due to multiple forums and technology, press censorship is impossible.
He said that multiple choices available today mean that every political viewpoint finds space in media.
'Today, you have a scenario where you have highly competitive electronic, print and digital media. You have multiple forums and because of technology, censorship is impossible. Any kind of pressure is impossible.
'If emergency was ever to be reimposed, it would collapse for the simple reason, that one of the strength of the emergency was Press censorship and technology doesn't permit a press censorship today,' he said at the function where Press Council of India Chairman Justice Chandramauli Kumar, members of the Press Council, and distinguished journalists were present .
Mr Jaitley conferred the Raja Ram Mohan Roy award to eminent journalist N Ram.
Ruby Sarkar, Chief Correspondent, Deshbandhu, Bhopal and Rajesh Parshuram Joshte, Daily Pudhari, Ratnagiri have been jointly designated for the the award in the category of 'Rural Journalism' award.
V S Rajesh, Deputy Editor, Kerala Kaumudi won the 'Development Reporting' award while Subhash Paul, Rashtriya Sahara, Delhi won the 'Photo Journalism-Single News Picture' award.
Mihir Singh, Photo journalist, Punjab Kesari, Delhi got the 'Photo Journalism-Photo Feature' award.
P Narasimha, Cartoon Editor, Nava Telangana, Hyderabad bagged 'Best Newspaper Art: covering cartoons, caricature and illustrations' award.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Press Council of India (PCI) Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad said,'With the evolution of the digital age, application of the freedom of speech has become more controversial. The line between real news and fake news has blurred.'
'Earlier there used to be good news or bad news, but now we have fake and paid news. Social media has achieved the dubious distinction of becoming a serial killer. The information is transmitted within a fraction of seconds from any part of the globe but the correctness, authenticity and purity of such information are under severe cloud,' Justice Prasad said.
'Occasions like this give you time to re-think and introspect,can we say it confidently that media truly is the voice of voiceless. Media is required to attempt to provide solution questioning is the easy part of the job,' he said.
UNI PY AR 1836