Sunit Tandon: Press Council of India should be given more powers’

Sunit Tandon is the Director General of the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and the former CEO of Lok Sabha TV. He is still remembered as a prominent newsreader on Doordarshan. An Economics graduate from St Stephen’s College, he has also been actively involved with radio broadcasting, television, theatre, and films. In an interview with Education Insider, the former General Manager of the National Film Development Corporation Ltd talks about the need for proper balance, perceptiveness, and attribution in the media sector

In conversation with Sunit Tandon...

Can you appraise the role of India’s fourth estate?
The fourth estate (the media) is one of the most important pillars of the Indian democratic set-up. It absolutely plays a vital role in informing the general public about issues concerning them, governance, and policies that affect our lives. The fourth estate is essential for Indian democracy. Without it, our democratic system cannot exist.

Which is the most memorable event in your career?
I have about 200+ memorable events in my career. One is, of course, helping to set up the new public service channel called Lok Sabha Television. Another memorable event is organising the International Film Festivals of India. I was in-charge of film selection and programming. I think we achieved a certain amount of success in organising them very professionally. Another major challenge I have undertaken is to help upgrade the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) to the level of a university.

Do you find any deficiencies in the modern day journalist?
It is not correct to generalise. There are excellent journalists and there are some who may have deficiencies. But if you look at journalism as a whole in India, I think there is a large room for improvement. There are too many pressures on journalists that take them away from the path of objective, dispassionate, and balanced reporting and writing. Secondly, by the nature of the profession, journalists have to meet deadlines. Many of them do not check facts or do their homework as much as they could possibly do in the interests of fairness and balance.

Do you think the fourth estate is playing its role responsibly in checking corruption and misgovernance?
I think it is, to a large extent, and that cannot be doubted. The fourth estate is helping to bring them (issues of corruption and misgovernance) to light in a large measure. It is not the media’s duty to correct injustices and set things right, but it is their duty to highlight them. Sometimes, they are biased, and at times, they misuse their power. But by and large, it would be absolutely correct to say that the fourth estate is playing a significant role.

Do you think the print media has succeeded over the electronic medium in sustaining public interest?
The print medium has succeeded largely in sustaining public interest despite the onslaught of the electronic media. By electronic media, I mean the traditional broadcast media, not the social media. The print medium has sustained and even strengthened itself through the period of expansion of the electronic media. The period of expansion of television has also seen the expansion of newspapers in India. Now, I think in the next 15-20 years, the print media might take a beating eventually. But this will first take place in the English language and later in the regional languages. So, we can say that so far, the print medium has sustained itself along with the electronic media.

Do you think the journalistic code of ethics is a toothless tiger?
Toothlessness is a term that cannot be used for a code, but it can for institutions that are meant to enforce the code. For instance, the Press Council of India (PCI) should be given more powers. There is no standardised code of ethics that I am aware of. There are certain generally accepted norms by which journalism should be practiced. The values of balance, perspective, attribution, and cross-checking of facts are taught everywhere but seldom practiced in the real world. In every democratic developed society, there has to be some agency for enforcement of ethics and codes, without suppression of the freedom of expression.

What was your inspiration to become a journalist?
I always wanted to be a communicator. I was interested in public speaking, presenting, and exploring ideas. My areas of interest were news and current affairs and for disseminating these, a medium is necessary. That’s how I chose the broadcasting media. It was a slow process of transformation, from a communicator to a journalist. This is a very responsible job. One should be well-informed and balanced. I love this profession.

What’s your message to budding journalists?
Enter into the journalism field only if you are passionate about it, prepared to put up with a lot to retain your integrity and ethics, and have deep interest in understanding issues and presenting them in a fair and balanced way for the public to understand. You should not become a judge or a jury and should not present an issue from a single point of view.

As the Director of IIMC, what innovations and changes have you brought about at the institute?
We have been doing three major things. One, expanding the reach of the institute. When I took over the institute, we had only one main branch in New Delhi and one in Dhenkanal in Orissa. Now, in the last two-and-a-half years, we have set up four more branches which will grow and develop over the years. These are in Jammu, Aizawl in Mizoram, Amaravati in Maharashtra, and Kottayam in Kerala.
Side by side, we are also working to upgrade the institute into a full-fledged university. We have drafted an Act of Parliament which will be put before the Cabinet for approval. Thirdly, we have plans to upgrade our programmes, courses, and facilities.

Why have the government-run news broadcast systems failed to garner public interest?
I don’t think I agree with that. Many people are reverting back to some of the government-run news broadcasting systems for their greater degree of balance and coverage. And as Doordarshan and AIR refresh their presentation, I’m sure they will attract an even greater audience.

Article first appeared in the 2012 October issue of Education Insider Magazine