Sukhu hits out at social media journalism, says it is a ‘Ransom channel’
CM Sukhu's strong comment on the increasing role of news web portals
Shimla, March 15: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has made a strong statement against social media and news web portals, which he says do not meet the standards of traditional journalism. Sukhu also hit out at what he called a new kind of journalism and said that a section of the media was now peddling half-truths and lies. He called this sort of journalism a “ransom channel.”
Sukhu’s comments have brewed a debate, especially focusing on the Baddi area, from where he alleged that several self-styled journalists are reportedly seeking bribes from industrialists and miners. These people go to business owners, making money requests in exchange for this positive coverage and holding back negative news,” he said. These comments by the Chief Minister were aimed at those who use their position in the media as a means of exploiting capital for themselves as opposed to upholding the ethical practices that mainstream journalists hold dear.
The Chief Minister asked the Assembly Speaker to take appropriate action, referencing a formal procedure to log any content from social media to be included in official records. We need a rule book to regulate social media, if someone publishes content, he should be responsible. So now that the government has introduced laws for some credibility of published material, he recommended that publishers and media outlets should themselves be responsible for the accuracy of their news reports.
Sukhu’s statement comes in the wake of the state gradually accepting influence of social media platforms and news web portals in shaping public opinion and political discourse. His statements are considered to be a part of his efforts to tackle a problem he believes has become more prevalent in the realm of digital media, where sensationalism and misinformation sometimes eclipse factual reporting.
Mainstream journalists, in some ways, have embraced Sukhu’s remarks, recognizing these new types of media and how they can undermine professional journalism, purposefully or not. Its concern, the Chief Minister noted, was not with responsible journalists using social media vehicles correctly but with those who took extortionist or sensationalist stances in public discourse. “The government will not take any action against educated and responsible journalists who using news portals and social media in the right way,” he added, indicating that responsible journalism is welcome, the action itself would not be making by the government.
While his comments are being welcomed by some as positive measures, Sukhu’s remarks have also drawn concerns about overreach and censorship. Critics have said such comments can be seen as an effort to silence free expression and limit the role of independent media. The government will face the challenge of enforcing this rulebook for social media and news portals, as such regulations could be confronted by media organizations and activists who are fighting for press freedom.
Ironically, state government has already framed a district-level policy for news web portals and social media influencers the implementation of which was never effective. As a result, the administration in many districts has faced difficulties in implementing these policies, leading to the perception of uneven regulation and monitoring of digital media. It remains to be seen whether Sukhu’s call for action will follow through and result in tangible changes, or become a mere symbolic gesture due to this disconnect in policy-making and enforcement.
Overall, Chief Minister Sukhu’s comments have certainly brought to the forefront the changing face of journalism in the digital era. His remarks on “ransom channels” — with their reliance on lies and sensationalism — and calls for stricter accountability and regulation reflect the changing media landscape and challenges posed by the explosive growth of social media and online news sites. This analysis will be continued along with necessary as well as timely major tasks of data verification and destruction of data at the right time and time-sensitive intervention, as per the parameters turned out in the directives of Indian Media.
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