Sonipat, 29th August: The Dean of the Jindal School of Journalism and Communication (JSJC),Professor Kishalay Bhattacharjee, along with Indian politician and CEO of ABP News Avinash Pandey, discussed on August 28th how media organizations can foster trust and credibility in the digital era. The event revolved around how misinformation can reduce trust in the media as a whole, making it more difficult to know what is fact and what is fiction in the future.
In recent times, online portals have gained prominence as the internet proliferated and they have challenged traditional media by providing instantaneous updates and interactive engagement. This has brought into question the credibility of sources.
Mass media is undoubtedly powerful enough to influence our beliefs, opinions, and values, it is a very subtle process of wrapping up our judgment and reasoning. Whether spoken, televised, or written, mass media reaches large audiences and has the power to influence contemporary culture. Additionally, public trust in traditional sources is down, but in “media” it's up, said Professor Bhattacharjee.
On this critical issue, Mr. Pandey stated, "It only survives when the category survives and the main competition comes from outside," referring to social media. “The problem with repetitive lying is that it eventually turns into a fact that has the ability to shine.” leading to problems of misinformation in the public
When asked about broadcast media and television, Mr. Pandey, emphasized that "television is all about drama." As many news networks compete with one another, there is pressure to make their coverage more sensational to stand out. Drama can also help to break down complex issues so that a larger audience can understand them. Mr. Pandey believes that in today's rapidly changing information landscape, traditional media is facing challenges in combating the spread of fake news, online realities blur and traditional TV news channels shine as beacons of reliability.