Kollam: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Tuesday sharply criticised contemporary news practices in the state, saying journalism was moving in a direction that he described as "unethical to the core" and urging senior members of the profession to act as guides for younger reporters.
Remarks at Senior Journalists Forum
Delivering an address organised by the Senior Journalists Forum Kerala (SJFK), the Chief Minister said reporters and public representatives no longer maintained the informal personal relationships that were once common, and termed that change regrettable. He cautioned that the media must take stock of its current trajectory and suggested a need for collective introspection.
"Where is the media going in Kerala? The time to think on this is long overdue because it is heading in the direction of being unethical to the core," he said.
Satheesan contrasted present-day practices with an earlier era when publications quickly corrected mistakes. He said that in the past, a publisher would issue an apology or a retraction within a day if reporting proved inaccurate; today, he claimed, some outlets persist with incorrect accounts and attempt to buttress them rather than acknowledge error.
Critique of content creation and sensationalism
The Chief Minister accused parts of the media of creating news where there is no material worth reporting and of manufacturing stories to fill space. He observed that some reports, in his view, elicited ridicule rather than serious public engagement and noted that Kerala's readers and viewers were capable of discerning such reporting.
Satheesan also warned against a perceived new tendency among certain channels and publications to create informal "credit ratings" or similar evaluations of public figures and institutions — a practice he said was undesirable. He was careful to distinguish his comments from ordinary political criticism, saying legitimate scrutiny of politicians or government is different from practices that, in his assessment, erode professional credibility.
Call to senior journalists
The Chief Minister urged veteran journalists to take responsibility for restoring standards. "Please keep that in mind," he said, asking seniors to demonstrate proper conduct in reporting to the wider fraternity.
His remarks come amid sustained public debate in Kerala over media ethics, the role of television debate shows, the spread of misinformation on social platforms and the boundaries between robust criticism and personal invective. While the state has a vibrant and pluralistic media ecosystem, concerns over sensationalism and accuracy have been frequently voiced by commentators and media-watch groups.
Context and implications
Kerala's media environment includes strong print readership, numerous television channels and active social media engagement. Calls for higher ethical standards usually trigger discussion on self-regulation, corrections and press accountability. The Chief Minister's public critique at a forum for senior journalists highlights the sensitivity of the topic when raised by a sitting head of government.
Observers note that tensions between political leaders and sections of the media are not unique to Kerala, but the state's high literacy and civic awareness amplify public scrutiny of allegations about journalistic conduct. Any debate sparked by Satheesan's comments is likely to centre on what constitutes ethical reporting, how mistakes should be remedied and the mechanisms — such as press councils, ombudsmen and editorial codes — that can be used to uphold standards.
- Event: Speech at Senior Journalists Forum Kerala, Kollam
- Principal claim: Some contemporary news practices are "unethical to the core"
- Key appeal: Senior journalists should guide and correct the profession
| Issue highlighted | Implication |
|---|---|
| Failure to retract wrong reports | Loss of credibility; spread of misinformation |
| Manufacturing news | Public ridicule; erosion of trust |
| Informal credit ratings by media | Questionable influence on public perception |
No immediate response from major media bodies or press associations was reported at the time of the address. The Chief Minister's appeal to seasoned journalists to set standards is likely to rekindle conversations within newsrooms and press organisations about verification, corrections and the balance between critical reporting and responsible journalism.
The remarks are certain to be debated across Kerala's public forums, where citizens and media professionals alike routinely discuss issues of governance, transparency and accountability.
