Trust is the essence of Journalism: Conrad Sangma

Shillong, Sept 20: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has expressed concern over the blurring of lines between news, opinion and information due to the growing media technologies, which has raised the issue of ‘trust’.

He said some time back there was a clear distinction between information, opinion and news. Now, opinions are being presented as news or information as news and the distinction between the three must continue.

Emphasising the value of trust, the need to build it, he said trust is vital for any news organization to remain competitive in the long run, Sangma said building “trust is most important”.

The CM made these observations while addressing the 1st Meghalaya Media Meet 2024 on the theme “Redefining Journalism in the Digital Age” in Shillong on Friday.

“We can sensationalize things for a short while but maintaining trust is what we should all strive for as we move along and I believe that trust is the most important aspect of journalism,” he added.

He said not just for journalists, trust is required for anyone in politics, but also those in leadership roles. Sangma said consistent growth of name or of the brand can only grow with trust from the public.

The Chief Minister said that the issue of trust must be ingrained within all journalists and only then growth would be visible through education, hard work and trust.

On the issue of criticising the government on any matter, the Chief Minister said positive criticism is important for a healthy democracy. He further said that the media should adapt to changes with changing technologies.

Stating that the Shillong Press Club or the DIPR can conduct training programmes for journalists if need be, Sangma said, these training would ensure that journalists use modern tools and apps in a professional manner for their personal growth.

The Chief Minister said that the government and media would continue to work together and assured the media fraternity that the government will look into some of the welfare concerns that have been raised by it.

Information and Public Relations Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh, during her address, said, nowadays the impact of social media on the lives of people is profound and is also a concern.

The Minister said topics like ethical responsibility, mobile-citizen journalism and artificial intelligence are all matters that need discussion and deliberation. “Ethical responsibility is something beyond any constitutional provision. We have to ensure that the young journalists conform to ethical consideration so that we may have a media which is acceptable, palatable and non-judgmental,” she remarked.

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