National Media Centre spotlights credibility crisis
The National Press Day event at New Delhi’s National Media Centre on November 16, 2025, convened regulators, news agency heads and government officials to discuss “Safeguarding Press Credibility amidst Rising Misinformation.” The gathering emphasised that preserving the press as the democratic “eyes and ears” requires renewed focus on verification and ethics.
“AI can never replace the human mind” PCI
Press Council of India chairperson Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai set the tone, cautioning that while AI tools can assist, they cannot substitute human judgement, conscience and responsibility qualities she described as essential to prevent the spread of falsehoods. She also reiterated PCI’s efforts to set up fact-finding teams, ethics committees and internships to strengthen standards and financial security for journalists.
PTI CEO: accuracy must beat speed and engagement
Vijay Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Press Trust of India, urged media organisations to prioritise accuracy over speed in the face of algorithm-driven digital engagement that rewards virality. He warned that paid news, advertorials and unchecked reporting have damaged trust, and recommended multi-layered fact-checking and ethics training to counter the “infodemic.”
Government representation and cross-sector support
Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw attended the event, underscoring government recognition of the challenge. Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan, Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Press Council Secretary Shubha Gupta were also present, signalling a cross-institutional approach to media ethics and capacity building.
Practical steps: verification, training and welfare
Speakers advocated concrete measures: (1) mandatory verification protocols before publishing breaking news; (2) wider adoption of newsroom fact-check units and cross-agency verification; (3) curriculum reforms to teach digital literacy and ethics to journalism students; and (4) welfare schemes and insurance to protect journalists’ financial security. PCI reiterated that technology should augment not replace editorial judgment.
Why this matters: democracy and public trust
Panelists warned that an erosion of press credibility undermines democratic accountability. When accuracy is sacrificed for clicks, false narratives spread faster and policymakers, courts and citizens face polluted information ecosystems. Rebuilding trust, they said, means incentives must shift from pure engagement metrics to verifiable public service reporting.
Way forward
The National Press Day conclave concluded with a call to action: newsrooms should embed ethics-checks and fact-check teams, technology platforms must collaborate to curb AI-assisted disinformation, and journalism educators should prioritise critical thinking. The event also encouraged citizens to support credible outlets and scrutinise sensational claims. For official details see the Press Information Bureau release and the Press Council of India’s portal.
