Media & judiciary together in M ..in Mission Democracy: CJI http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/88580343.cms
Swati Deshpande / TNN / Updated: Dec 30, 2021,
"Nothing can be more lethal to democracy than the deadly combination of confrontational polity and competitive journalism. Tragically, they feed on each other,'' said Chief Justice of India NV Ramana
"Allowing yourself to be co-opted by an ideology or the State is a recipe for disaster.'' He added, "Journalists are like judges in one sense'' and must do their duty uninfluenced by their beliefs.
What is gaining prominence recently, he said, is "the attention economy''. "In the hope of grabbing eyeballs'', catchy but misleading headlines, often unreflective of the actual content, are given, then get shared widely and "content is forgotten.''
To the CJI, On His Lament that Investigative Journalism Is Vanishing From Indian Media
Online Video:
"Media Should Have Trust In Judiciary": CJI Ramana At RedInk Awards | NV Ramana | Mumbai Press Club Dec 30, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEyMWi1W9KU
Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Wednesday said mixing news with views was a dangerous cocktail and, “nothing can be more lethal to democracy than the deadly combination of confrontational polity and competitive journalism.” https://youtu.be/NEyMWi1W9KU?t=374
Open letter to the Chief Justice of India https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/open-letter-to-the-chief-justice-of-india/
The CJI rightly observes that investigative journalism is vanishing in India. But doesn’t the judiciary need to confront the reality that press freedom is at its lowest ebb in independent India’s history?
three sets of causes ...Firstly, the structural realities of media ownership concentrated in the hands of a few corporate houses pursuing mega profits.
Secondly, the unprecedented levels of the state’s assault on, and ruthless repression of, independent journalism.
Thirdly, a decaying of moral fibre and the eagerness of numerous very senior professionals to serve as stenographers to power.
Perhaps the abject state of journalism could be somewhat improved if the judiciary confronted the reality that press freedom is at its lowest ebb in independent India’s history. The capacity for repression of the modern technological state – as you doubtless observed in dealing with the Pegasus case – dwarfs even the nightmares of the Emergency.