'Media has lost the right to self-regulate'

Is the arrest of two senior journalists of the Zee news group on charges of attempting to extort Rs 100 crore from Congress MP Naveen Jindal  proof that the media that has lost the right to self-regulate? Does the Press Council of India deserve more powers to take more punitive action against media outlets?

According to former editor of the Hindu, it has.

“The media has lost the right to self-regulate and the recent case of the Niira Radia tapes case shows that,” N Ram said during a panel discussion on CNN-IBN.

Even Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju said he believes a body is required to make sure journalists fear doing wrong and the PCI must have the power to suspend licences.

However, according to Indian Express editor Shekhar Gupta , the media is already under greater scrutiny especially the diminished role of editors who have now moved towards adopting a marketing, business roles as well.

“The Indian Express and Hindu disagree on many issues, but that is not due to corruption. An idea that somebody can take away licences is dangerous,” Gupta said.

He agreed there was a need for some kind of regulation but said a body governed by  retired bureaucrats and judges cannot decide how news must be regulated.

Senior Hindi journalist A Upadhyay agreed and said the Jindal-Zee case should not be seen as the norm for the media industry in India.

“The case of Zee is an aberration rather than the rule. The media in India is indeed going through a golden phase where regional channels are doing well,” he said.