‘Print media’s credibility still higher than electronic media’

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 8

Social media that is popular among the young generation these days is actually an ‘old trick’ of communication, which has re-emerged in society in a big way now.

Sharing these views during the Pt Mohan Lal Memorial Lecture on Social Media and its Impact at SD College in Sector 32 here, the Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune Group of Publications, Harish Khare, while addressing students, referred to a number of old communication systems starting from the Chapati Movement in 1857 to today’s Facebook or Twitter that send information in seconds across the world.

Referring to Indian democracy that provides an open opportunity to all to express their views, Harish Khare showed concern over recent incidents on social media that misguided the community.

He said social media was the biggest challenge that the Indian Government was going to face in the coming years as no authority could control this technology, which sends information in no time without verifying its authenticity.

Reacting to a question of one of the students that are political parties making full use of social media in elections, he said this was a wonderful tool to express their vision and thoughts and political leaders were making the optimum use of this platform.

Asked whether yellow journalism was morally incorrect and financially viable, the Editor-in-Chief said this term did not exist in today’s media as credibility of the print media was still higher than the electronic media due to which newspapers were still surviving.

Taking a serious note of a question by a girl student as to whether the ban on porn sites by the government assures security and safety of women in society, Harish Khare said this was a matter of discussion whether the ban would have any impact on the mind of society; but first women have to change their mindset and be confident to handle any kind of situation independently.