New Delhi: Journalists must place truth above trends and value accuracy over speed, Press Council of India (PCI) Chairperson Justice Ranjana Desai said on Sunday, underlining the growing responsibility of the media in an era dominated by rapid technological change and widespread misinformation. Speaking at the National Press Day function in New Delhi, Justice Desai highlighted the pressing challenges confronting the press, particularly the erosion of credibility due to the arbitrary use of technology in mass communication.

Addressing an audience that included Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, PTI CEO Vijay Joshi, and other senior media personnel, Justice Desai cautioned that journalism today extends far beyond reporting events. “The work of journalists does not end with reporting an event; it extends to verifying facts, interpreting them accurately, and placing them in proper perspective,” she said. “They must ensure that news is created responsibly, not merely for speed or sensational impact.”

Desai emphasised that in the current media landscape, accuracy should be valued more than the race to break news first, and truth should be prioritised over fleeting trends or public attention. The PCI Chairperson stressed that the responsibility of journalists has grown in significance, particularly as misinformation can spread faster than ever through social media platforms and digital channels.

“The arbitrary use of technology in mass communication has led to a growing spread of misinformation,” Justice Desai observed. “Journalists now carry the onerous responsibility of safeguarding the truth and ensuring that what reaches the public is verified, contextualised, and reliable.”

Highlighting the role of the Press Council of India, she stated that the Council has recently updated the Norms of Journalistic Conduct to encourage greater care and responsibility in reporting. Justice Desai specifically urged media professionals to exercise restraint while reporting on sensitive topics such as religion or the armed forces, where even minor inaccuracies can have significant societal consequences.

“The press is a pillar of democracy, but it is only credible when it adheres to truth and accuracy,” Desai said. She added that financial independence is also critical to maintaining press credibility, and informed that the Council has advised state and Union territory governments to implement group insurance schemes for journalists, as a step toward supporting the workforce and upholding journalistic integrity.

Justice Desai also addressed the increasing role of artificial intelligence in journalism, warning that while technology can aid reporting, it cannot replace human judgment, conscience, or the sense of responsibility that guides journalists. “Technology should help us find the truth, not twist or overshadow it,” she said. “No matter how advanced these tools become, they can never substitute the ethical judgment and responsibility that every journalist must exercise to prevent misinformation from spreading.”

In her remarks, Justice Desai painted a broader picture of the contemporary media environment, where social media virality, the pressure for immediate reporting, and technological tools have dramatically altered how news is produced and consumed. She cautioned that while these tools can facilitate reporting and information dissemination, they must not undermine journalistic rigor.

“The responsibility of journalists in such times has become more onerous than ever,” she noted. “The integrity of the press depends on their ability to filter fact from speculation and to resist the temptation of chasing trends or sensationalism at the cost of truth.”

The PCI Chairperson’s address also emphasized that journalism is an ethical profession requiring conscientious practice. Journalists are expected not only to report news but also to place it in context and provide the public with reliable, balanced information. According to Desai, this ethical grounding is indispensable in preserving the credibility and influence of the press in a democratic society.

The function, held to mark National Press Day, provided a platform for the Chairperson to reiterate the Council’s vision of a responsible, independent, and ethically conscious media. She reminded journalists that while the landscape of communication is evolving, the fundamental values of accuracy, truth, and accountability remain timeless.

Desai’s call to action was clear: media professionals must internalize the principle that their primary obligation is to the truth. “Truth cannot be sacrificed for speed, popularity, or sensational appeal,” she said. “Every journalist must uphold the standards of their profession, ensuring that information shared with the public is factual, carefully verified, and responsibly reported.”

In conclusion, Justice Ranjana Desai’s address underscored the pivotal role of the press in contemporary society and the heightened ethical standards expected from journalists in an age of rapid information dissemination. By advocating for prioritising truth over transient trends, she reaffirmed the PCI’s commitment to supporting a media environment that values accuracy, accountability, and responsibility as the cornerstones of public trust.