Mild criticism of the media and indirect defence of the State government’s flagship SilverLine project stood out in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s words as he opened the golden jubilee celebrations of the Calicut Press Club here on Saturday.
Without mentioning the semi-high-speed railway project, he urged the media not to act like a “megaphone” for those who halt development schemes. Mr. Vijayan claimed that some issues were being blown out of proportion and cited the example of the media coverage of a fire at the State secretariat some time ago. Some media outlets aired or published reports that gave an impression that the authorities were behind the incident, as they wanted to destroy some important files. Those organisations did not carry any follow-up reports even after it was revealed that the fire was not intentional, and that no important files had been damaged, Mr. Vijayan said.
The Chief Minister called upon the media not to give space for mischief makers who try to stop development projects to protect their vested interests. He claimed that some media outlets, which had supported such projects in the past, had now turned against them. Mr. Vijayan said that those who lose land or other properties would be compensated well above the market rates.
On remarks by a prominent TV anchor against a senior trade union leader and the controversy that erupted thereafter, he said contempt and ridicule should not be considered part of media freedom. Mr. Vijayan pointed out that published word and aired visuals were no longer being considered the ultimate truth. Social media had turned out to be an auditor of traditional media. “There is a cross-auditing of the people as well. You people can ignore this only at the risk of losing your credibility. Fake narratives should not be news,” he said.
Ministers P.A. Mohamed Riyas, A.K. Saseendran, and Ahammad Devarkovil, and Thottathil Raveendran, MLA, M.K. Raghavan, MP, and Mayor Beena Philip were present.
