News Broadcasting Media and Misinformation: an Assessment of Viability of Various Regulatory Mechanisms in India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69974/glskalp.03.02.14Keywords:
News Broadcasting Media, Misinformation, Freedom of Speech and Expression, Self-Regulation, State- Regulation & Co-RegulationAbstract
In recent times, India is not only dealing with pandemic of Covid-19 but also dealing with another kind of pandemic which is far more dangerous to the citizens of India. And, still there is no progress made to prevent this another kind of pandemic which is brought in the nation by news broadcasting media with the virus of “misinformation”. In democratic country news media plays important role as it is considered as fourth pillar of democracy, but nowadays, it is seen that news media houses are more interested in giving misinformation to make their news content more sensational and to promote indirectly political parties’ agendas. And, the self-regulatory mechanism is failing to maintain the ethical standards required in such profession. This paper attempts to analyze various regulatory mechanism to see best possible mechanism to prevent this pandemic. In this research paper doctrinal and descriptive research methodologies have been used. And it can be concluded that more balanced and co- regulatory mechanism can be most feasible to held responsible news media houses and to bring the standard ethical values which are required in this profession.
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