Rosaiah sees scribes-politicians nexus

Hyderabad,Nov 16: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr K Rosaiah, decried on Monday what he called the “growing nexus between journalists on the one hand and politicians, businessmen and other celebrities on the other.”“I am told there is a price for everything.And it is a win-win situation for both sides,” he said addressing a meeting got up on the occasion of observing the Press Day here on Monday.The Press Council of India Chairman,Justice G N Ray, and the Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information and Public Relations, Mrs J Geetha Reddy,among several dignitaries were present.Mr Rosaiah felt that a dangerous tendency has been gaining ground in the media as what is described as paid coverage, especially during elections.

Advertisements paid for in cash by different parties or candidates are being published or telecast, camouflaged as news and features.Sections of the media guilty of such practices are undermining democracy either wittingly or unwittingly.A candidate with immense money power can create the illusion through the media that he is winning and influence voting behavior since people are given to bet on a winning horse,the Chief Minister said.About the freedom of the Press,Mr Rosaiah is of the opinion that there are laws to protect media freedom. Unfortunately, there are no laws to protect people from media freedom.Quoting Grace Kelly he said, “The freedom of the Press works in such a way that there is not much freedom from it.

Listing the various welfare schemes launched by the Congress Government in the State, the Chief Minister was happy that the media too is witnessing a boom in the State. “We are proud to have the largest number of Telugu language TV news channels. Publishers bring out daily newspapers in color along with supplements for every district and perhaps every mandal.It is a matter of pleasant surprise that there may not be any Government representative at many places but you can definitely find a news reporter at every place,” he added.The Andhra Pradesh Government views the proliferation of the media as a welcome development.Cut-throat competition among the print and the electronic media enables people to have access to all facts.

Even if one media section tries to suppress certain facts or indulge in falsehood, people can access other media sections to get at the truth of any development.Let a thousand flowers bloom in the media field; for we believe in what Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” he said.