Ashwini Vaishnaw Highlights Digital Media's Impact on Remote Villages on National Press Day

Media is often termed as a fourth pillar of democracy. The media plays an important role in building up public opinion in the manner that it activates people's and transparency, together with the accountability of power. On National Press Day, celebrated on 16th November every year, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw here spoke at the event discussing the importance of a free press and, even a responsible press in the growth of society.

National Press Day: Ashwini Vaishnaw Highlights Media's Role 

It was during the National Press Day ceremony in 2024 that Vaishnaw stressed that media had been a sacrosanct protector of public interest, being a fuel for development, and protector of democratic values. He recognised the battles that the press fought for its freedom from colonial times to the Emergency of 1975 and highlighted its grit in upholding transparency and accountability.

 Expanding Media Landscape in India

Vaishnaw sees the upward curve of media industry in India, not less than 35,000 daily newspapers and over 1,000 registered news channels. Under the digital regime, news now reaches all the tiny villages changing the very face of information access. Mobile phones are powerful tools and keep millions abreast with national and international goings-on.

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While celebrating the reach of digital media, Vaishnaw voiced some concern about the spread of fake and misleading news, which is increasingly turning out to be a growing menace in this age of digital turmoil. He said that the principle responsibility of media was to report news that was accurate and fact-based and contributed to public education. The spread of false information, he sounded a warning, was something that threatened society and national interests in a big way.

 The Road Ahead

Vaishnaw has appealed to media professionals and platforms to focus on quality content based on proper research. He wanted sources of fake news to be identified and combatted so that digital media does not become an instrument of misinformation but a force for good.

The minister's words have underscored the new role the media needs to play in this new landscape of the digital world, in a renewed commitment to truth and public service.