Maintain high professional standards: Ansari to media

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“Our own recent experience has shown how erroneous reports exacerbate social and communal divides. There have been cases when news groups have aired content whose veracity and antecedents were doubtful — with disastrous effect. While such content may, in the short run, increase visibility or serve preferred political patronage, it eventually detracts from the credibility of the press and eats into civil liberties,” said Ansari, adding that the content should also be impartial, independent and respectful.

His remarks come in the wake of a forensic investigation, ordered by the Delhi government, which found that some video clips of a controversial event at JNU — taken as evidence against students charged with sedition — were doctored. These videos were also aired by some news channels.

The Vice President also said that over the years there has been a change in the role and position of the editor. Lamenting the lack of demarcation between the responsibilities of the editor and the owner, he noted “a distinct reluctance on part of the owners to have a visible, independent and opinionated editor”. He further said that the lines between an editorial and an advertisement should be drawn in bold.