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Bring law to restrict media owners from cross-business: MPs

Expressing concern over alleged misuse of the media by political parties during elections, members in Rajya Sabha today said paid news was distorting the electoral system and sought a law to restrict media owners from holding cross-businesses.

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Expressing concern over alleged misuse of the media by political parties during elections, members in Rajya Sabha today said paid news was distorting the electoral system and sought a law to restrict media owners from holding cross-businesses.

Participating in a short duration debate on electoral reforms, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav strongly pitched for media reforms, saying democracy was in "danger" as the media was being controlled by capitalists.

Observing that journalists were being hired on contract basis, he said the recommendations of the Majithia wage boards for newspaper industry employees should be implemented at the earliest to protect mediapersons.

"We have seen the media in earlier days and we are seeing the media now. We are not getting true news. ... Journalists are honest but they cannot write true stories because of their owners. We have capitalists owning media houses now," he said.

The capitalists controlling the media followed 'hire and fire' policy. Not only this, the media does not have any connect with the people because of the media owners, he said.

"So there is no point talking about electoral reforms without discussing media reforms. ... We must have a law to restrict those who run media houses from being involved in other businesses," Yadav said, adding that "one of the capitalists" owned 40 per cent stake in a media house.

"Journalists are the fourth pillar of democracy, not the owners of newspapers and television channels," he asserted.

Stating that media owners controlled the content, Yadav said "I campaigned extensively during elections. Not a single word was published. Owners of media don't allow...." He also suggested a debate on functioning of media in the House.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the prevalence of paid news in the media was a serious issue which required a separate discussion.

"One of the distortions in our electoral system is the growth of paid news. Time has now come to identify such news and the party or person who has paid for such news," he said and stressed the need to "formulate some new laws" to end this activity.

Elaborating on the matter, Yechury said there was no country in the world which allowed crossholding of print and electronic media.

"What is happening to the media needs to be seriously discussed. There should be a separate discussion about the role of the media," he said. (More)

 

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

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