New Delhi: Only 31 per cent of news consumers
back Press Council Chairman Justice Markandey Katju`s views
that Indian media is anti-people, a survey has claimed.
According to the survey conducted by a marketing agency
for `Outlook` magazine, two out of every three Indians
preferred self regulation by media rather than any government
intervention.
"Notwithstanding the ripples created by his recent
comments, barely 31 per cent of news consumers share Katju`s
perception that Indian news media is anti-people," a release
issued by the magazine said.
On the contrary, the trust in the credibility of media is
as high as 92 per cent.
Katju has kicked up a controversy soon after assuming
office of Press Council Chairman by remarking that he held a
"poor opinion" of media personnel in general accusing them of
often working in an "anti-people" manner and advocating more
teeth to the council to regulate them.
The survey said that 59 per cent of TV viewers agreed
with Katju`s views that media was diverting attention of the
people by focusing on trivia and gossip while only 42 per
cent of the newspaper readers agreed with it.
44 per cent of the news consumers felt that standards of
journalism had risen. Over 75 per cent of those surveyed
found that the newspaper they read or the news channel they
watch had been fair and accurate in reporting recent events.
Fifty-six per cent of the respondents felt that media was
paying the price for uncovering the scams and corruption
scandals.
On the Rs 100 crore damages awarded against Times Now by a
Pune court, the release said that 46.1 per cent felt it was
unfair.
The poll was conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,
Kolkata and Hyderabad this week among 516 respondents.
PTI
