As the country is going through a difficult phase, church leaders urge Christian journalists to stand for the truth during the 25th National Convention of Christian Journalists, where hundreds of media personnel and communication students from all over India had gathered.
The event that took place in the national capital on February 29 was organized by the Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA), one of the oldest and most active Catholic press organizations in Asia, and themed "Journalism today: Pragmatism triumphs over principles."
In the keynote address, Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto of Delhi said that "Media is a vocation and a mission, so Christian journalists have a duty to stand for the truth and speak for Dalits, tribals, the downtrodden and the voiceless."
"Unfortunately, the watchdog has become a lapdog in the race for sensationalism, sometimes not even checking the facts, and it is very dangerous for a democratic country. The role of the media is to tell the truth and only the truth, but it has become a casualty. It is sad that they have diverted from their responsibilities. Some media have even become cheerleaders of the ruling government," the Christian leader said.
Ignatius Gonsalves, president of ICPA said, "Everyone is afraid of the truth because it demands action, and action involves pain. No one wants to hear or speak the truth these days."
H. K. Dua, former chief editor of the Indian Express and the Hindustan Times said, "Not only journalists but civil society is also under tremendous pressure because they feel that they have lost freedom of expression. If you criticize the government, you will be branded anti-national or if you speak for tribals you will be called urban naxals [communists]."
"But we should not run away from the truth because that is our calling, to serve as torchbearers of the truth and to keep hope alive because one day the dark clouds will disappear and the truth will prevail," Dua added.
