Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and The Hindu Group Director, N. Ram, during the launch of the Federation of Press Clubs logo, first national conference of the Federation of Press Clubs, organised by Hyderabad Press Club in Hyderabad. Also seen are President, Press Club of India, Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty. Editor, Caravan, Ananthnath, Chairman of the Federation, Gautam Lahiri, Telangana Media Academy Chairman K. Srinivas Reddy.
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Press Clubs across the country should play a proactive role in restoring public trust in the media, according to eminent journalist and Director of The Hindu Group, N Ram. Speaking at the National Conclave of the Federation of Press Clubs here on Saturday, Ram said an erosion of public trust in the media and growing threats to its freedom and independence were two interconnected challenges confronting journalism.Though political propaganda, misinformation and disinformation on social media led to the trust deficit largely, some sections of the media had also contributed to it through sensationalism, inadequate verification, communal rhetoric, invisible or reluctant corrections and excessive proximity to political and corporate interests, he said. “When journalism becomes indistinguishable from political propaganda and when television debates substitute noise for information, public trust inevitably suffers,” he said.According to him, a free press could not survive on constitutional and legal safeguards alone and public trust was equally crucial to its remaining an effective democratic institution.THREAT to media freedomOn threat to media freedom, he said coercive tactics against journalists were not confined to any one political party or government. State governments of different political affiliations had also resorted to measures such as criminal cases, police action and attempts to arrest journalists.The Federation of Press Clubs in India, could establish a national network capable of responding quickly whenever journalists faced threats anywhere in the country, he said. Senior advocate and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal had offered to provide pro-bono services, leadership and financial support if an independent foundation was established for the legal protection of journalists, Ram said.The press clubs had an important role in rebuilding that trust by promoting professional ethics and independence, Ram added. Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has called for a strong and independent media, saying journalism’s role in a democracy is to make those in power “explain itself” and hold authority to account.“Governments and journalists were not expected to agree all the time, and if they did, citizens should perhaps start worrying,” he said adding publications such as Amrita Bazar Patrika and The Hindu had also helped shape public opinion during the colonial period and the media should not stop at reporting events but should also examine what those events meant for society. Ananth Nath, Editor, Caravan and Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, president, Press Club of India said a collective voice against attacks on journalistic freedom and journalists, would go a long way in strengthening desire for fair journalism and the affected parties.Published on August 22, 2026
