India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on Tuesday said that ‘presenting authentic information is the prime responsibility of media’ and that facts should be properly checked before they are put in the public domain.

He also advised news media to exercise caution while live reporting terror attacks, saying it should not provide clues to attackers and their ill motives.

Speaking at the opening of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) General Assembly 2022 in New Delhi, the Minister said, “While speed with which the information is transmitted is important, accuracy is even more important and should be primary in the minds of communicators”.

On reporting with responsibility, Thakur observed: “Media needs to report with responsibility in the case of earthquakes, fire and more importantly terrorist attacks. Media must ensure that any live reporting in case of terrorist attack should not provide clues to the attackers and their ill motives.”

While dwelling on fake news with the proliferation of social media, Thakur informed the audience of broadcasters from the Asia-Pacific region that the Indian government has established the Fact Check Unit in the Press Information Bureau of Government of India to counter unverified claims and present truth to the people.

The Minister highlighted that for responsible media organizations maintaining public trust should be the highest guiding principle.

He credited public broadcasters Doordarshan and All India Radio for having always stood by the truth and having won people’s trust for their truthful reporting.

Holding forth on India’s public broadcasters, the Minister highlighted the stellar work done by Doordarshan and All India Radio in particular and the Indian media in general,

Thakur invited the media to become a partner in governance and used the podium to reiterate the words of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that “media should act as a link between government and people and provide continuous feedback, at both national and regional level”.

He further urged that ABU as an association of broadcasting organizations must continue to train and equip media practitioners with the best professional skills on the role of media in the time of crisis and promised that India was ready for all such efforts.

The Minister also deliberated on the collaborations and partnerships India has with ABU members and said that NABM, the apex training institute of Prasar Bharati, is closely collaborating with ABU Media Academy in organising training covering various aspects of broadcast industry.

Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi in his welcome address appreciated the role of ABU in promoting the collective interests of television and radio broadcasters, and regional and international co-operation between broadcasters in the Asia Pacific Region.

Prasar Bharati, parent of DD and AIR, is hosting the 59th ABU General Assembly 2022 in New Delhi. The theme for this year’s assembly is ‘Serving the People: Media’s Role in Times of Crisis’.