Indian media must go global: PM

IN Media Practice | 15/01/2005

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday asked Indian media to go global and expressed concern that few organisations were investing in foreign correspondents in important capitals overseas. "The world must know what is happening in India," the prime minister told the India Economic Conclave 2005 organised here by CNBC TV18, the theme for which is "India and the Global Opportunity".

"I do believe that Indian media must now go global. We need our own CNNs and BBCs - a global Indian channel with a global perspective and reaching out to a global audience. I also think Indian print media must now think global." Manmohan Singh observed that Indian media`s coverage of even its own region, South Asia, was inadequate and said this must definitely change in today`s global order.

"I find several international news organizations seeking permission to enter the Indian market. We have constituted a group of ministers to evolve our policy response in this regard," he said. "But what I do not find as yet is an Indian media company wanting to go global. In fact, very few of our media organisations are as yet willing to invest in foreign correspondents in important capitals of the world," he remarked.

Manmohan Singh said the media could help not only in saving valuable time in responding to natural calamities, but also in exposing malpractices in the system. "I must pay a personal tribute to the media in the context of the tsunami tragedy because it was an early report on a TV news channel that first alerted me to the tragedy," he said.

"I have appealed to scientists to strive hard to address this question. But whatever warning systems we put in place, there can be no substitute to an alert and energetic media. You can play a constructive role in helping people."

Calling India`s "free and energetic media" the best form of early warning system during crisis, the prime minister said such a role should be adopted not only during natural calamities but also during social and political exigencies. "You have to draw the attention of both investors and government to what is happening in the markets at home and abroad, in firms large and small, and in government," he said.

"It was the media that alerted us to the stock market scam of 1992. You must be the guardians of the interests of ordinary investors so that we can create wealth for all and not just for a few." According to the prime minister, the past decade has witnessed a boom in Indian media that was never seen in the past, resulting in exponential growth in both the number of consumers of news and content suppliers.

"This has given many young women and men the opportunity to exhibit their talent and creativity. Never before has the Indian media scene been as exciting a place to work in as it is now," he said. "In 1990, we had only one TV channel and a limited business media. Today, there are scores of TV channels and several business channels vying with one another for the viewer`s attention and the advertiser`s budget."

Earlier, Manmohan Singh honoured some leaders for their contribution to Indian business, including Securities and Exchange Board of India chairman G.N. Bajpai, Zee group chairman Subhash Chandra, Hero Honda`s Brij Mohan Munjal, HCL founder Shiv Nadar, Hyundai India chief B.V.R. Subbu and noted banker Deepak Parikh.