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Calling fake news a threat to public order and democratic process, a parliamentary committee has recommended amending penal provisions, increasing fine and fixing accountability to tackle the challenge. In its draft report adopted on Tuesday, the Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology has also called for mandatory presence of fact-checking mechanism and internal ombudsman in all print, digital and electronic media organisations. Sources said the committee has made a raft of suggestions, including a collaborative effort among all stake-holders covering government, private and independent fact-checkers to tackle the challenge of fake news. The committee headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey adopted the report unanimously, showing a cross-party support for stepped-up efforts to handle the menace of fake news, the sources added. The Committee desire the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure that fact-checking mechanism and internal ombudsman should be m
At least five vehicles carrying mediapersons to Haridwar to cover Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's two-day visit to Uttarakhand met with an accident on Sunday morning, according to eyewitnesses. No one was injured in the incident that occurred at around 10 am, a few km from Haridwar, they added. Gupta, along with her family members, left her Shalimar Bagh residence for a two-day tour of the holy town in Uttarakhand, after the completion of 100 days in office. According to reports, a car in Gupta's convoy suddenly applied brakes, resulting in a collision between five media vehicles that were following the cavalcade. However, the chief minister's office refuted the reports, saying the erring driver was not part of the chief minister's convoy.
Network18 Media & Investments Ltd has reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 29.09 crore in the March quarter, while its revenue from operations stood at Rs 561.32 crore. It reported a loss of Rs 195.68 crore and revenue from operations was at Rs 2,792.45 crore in the corresponding March quarter a year ago, according to a late night regulatory filing by Network18 Media on Friday. Its results are not comparable with the year-ago period due to the merger of its subsidiary Viacom18 with Star India. "The group has recognised loss of Rs 1,435.79 crore, upon derecognition of net assets including goodwill, carrying value of non-controlling interest in those subsidiaries and recognition of investment retained in Viacom18 at fair value and sale consideration of the investment in lndiacast, which has been disclosed as exceptional items in the results. "Accordingly, the figures for the corresponding previous periods are not comparable," the company said. While on a standalone basis Network18
Former Orissa High Court chief justice S Muralidhar on Friday said the media in India has had to fight for its independence as many mainstream media are either owned by "large corporate houses or by political parties". Justice (retired) Muralidhar was speaking at BG Verghese Memorial Lecture on the topic 'Media, Courts, and Freedom of Expression' here. "The media's role is to hold power accountable, and it cannot do so effectively if it is beholden to corporate and political interests," he said. Highlighting the "increasing constraints on independent journalism" and the challenges posed by corporate and political influences on the media, he said major print and electronic media houses are largely controlled by corporate entities or political parties. "The media in India has had to fight for its independence and for its freedom. It is a fact though that much of the mainstream print and electronic media are either owned by large corporate houses or by political parties. Both print an
Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday condoled the death of noted media personality Ramoji Rao, saying he will continue to inspire all. "Deeply saddened by the passing away of Ramoji Group's founder, Ramoji Rao Garu. His contributions will continue to inspire us all. This is an irreparable loss," Radhakrishnan said in a post on X. "My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to his family. May his soul rest in peace," he added. Veteran media personality and Ramoji group chairman Ramoji Rao died at a hospital in Hyderabad early on Saturday. Rao (88), who was undergoing treatment for the past few days, breathed his last at 4.50 am, according to ETV, Telangana, one of the Ramoji group channels.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday came out with a slew of suggestions, including laws to regulate ownership of news organisations by a political or business entity, to ensure responsible journalism and a free press in the country. Speaking at the N Ramachandran Foundation award ceremony here, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said India was one of the few countries in the world where there were no regulations with regard to the ownership of media by a private individual. "The government must introduce laws and regulations that limit control of multiple news organisations by a single business or political entity whereby encouraging a robust and independent press in the country," he said. Tharoor said media in India largely had a "cavalier attitude towards facts" and was "reluctant to issue corrections". Referring to his own personal experiences with the media and his decision to opt for legal recourse over allegations in the press against him, Tharoor said, "Once character can be ...
Billionaire Gautam Adani's group has acquired the remaining 51 per cent stake in Quintillion Business Media Pvt Ltd to take full control of the Raghav Bahl-curated digital business news platform for an undisclosed amount. Adani Enterprises Ltd, the ports-to-energy conglomerate's flagship firm, in a stock exchange filing, said its subsidiary AMG Media Networks Ltd "has executed a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of remaining 51 per cent stake in QBML", the firm which operates the business and financial news digital media platform BQ Prime. It, however, did not disclose the financial details of the transaction. Quintillion was Adani's first bet in the Indian news industry before taking about 65 per cent stake in broadcaster NDTV in December last year. AMG Media had previously bought a 49 per cent stake in Quintillion Business Media Ltd (QBML) for Rs 47.84 crore. BQ Prime was earlier known as Bloomberg Quint, a former joint venture between US-based financial news agency .