Dehradun Seminar emphasizes ethical journalism and fact-checking on National Press Day
Dehradun, November 16: On the occasion of National Press Day, a seminar titled “Preserving the Credibility of the Press Amidst Increasing Misinformation” was held at the District Information Office, Dehradun. The event was chaired by senior journalist V.D. Sharma, with Additional District Information Officer Rawendra Singh serving as the moderator.
Presiding over the seminar, V.D. Sharma said that misleading news poses a serious threat to journalism, and responsibility lies with media professionals to counter it. He stressed the importance of setting high journalistic standards and urged journalists to ensure the accuracy of information before publishing or broadcasting any news.
Sharma further added that in the digital age, where information moves rapidly across platforms, the rise in fake news, disinformation, and incomplete reporting has created confusion among the public. These challenges have shaken the credibility of the media also. He underlined the crucial role of fact-checking, source verification, impartial reporting, and ethical practices to maintain trust in journalism.
Speaking during the seminar, senior journalist Ghanshyam Chandra Joshi gave a historical overview of the Press Council of India and its role in upholding journalistic ethics. He said that in the era of artificial intelligence and social media, the spread of misleading content has grown immensely. This places a greater responsibility on journalists to thoroughly investigate and verify facts before publishing.
Other senior journalists including Ashok Sharma, Anil Mittal, Alok Sharma, Subhash Kumar, Arjun Bhandari, Vineet Gupta, Basant Pant, Naveen Joshi, Jagmohan Maurya, Harpreet, and Prashant Chaudhary also shared their views on the challenges and responsibilities of contemporary journalism.
The event saw participation from several media professionals and officials including Additional District Information Officer Rawendra Singh, senior journalists, and staff from the District Information Office such as Jaswant Singh, Sangeeta Butola, Peter John, Assistant Accountant Anjali, Junior Assistant Indresh Kothari, Pankaj Arya, Mukul, Ritesh, and others.
It may be recalled that National Press Day, celebrated every year on November 16, marks the establishment of the Press Council of India—a watchdog to promote and preserve the freedom of the press and to uphold the standards of journalism in the country.
