New Delhi: Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said the Centre will take steps if and as required to ensure that the nation's media houses get their fair share of revenues for the news content they publish. Speaking at the second edition of the DNPA Conclave & Awards in Delhi, Anurag Thakur on Tuesday assured that relief will be brought when required with the Centre's intervention. “Power lies in the hands of foreign tech, which are behind walls of transparency… If and when required, we will take steps for the welfare of the country,” the I&B Minister said.
Speaking at a session on the launch of the findings of EY’s report titled 'Monetising Digital News - A summary of digital news publishing in India’ at the DNPA Conclave and Awards 2024, the minister said: “Whatever changes are required we will bring. The law of the land is equal for everyone.”
DNPA, an umbrella organisation of India’s top 18 news publishers, is fighting to ensure that media houses in India receive their fair share of revenue from big tech companies for the content they publish.
Anurag Thakur said: "Bharat has a culture of healthy habits... Free speech is a part of a robust India." He added that the onus is not just on the big tech firms and big players; small players' roles and responsibilities are also important.
During a panel discussion on the EY report, ABP Network CEO Avinash Pandey delved into the issue of revenue generation and split and suggested two roads to ensure business by media houses. "First involves an internal task. We [media houses] should serve the news for free as it is about informing the masses. But all our award-winning journalism, which is extremely labour-intensive and highly researched pieces, should be behind paywalls,” he said. “The second stage for generating business is to sit with the big tech companies and come up with equitable models so that everyone gets their fair share of revenue,” ABP Network CEO added.
Bringing together influential Indian policymakers, global experts, and senior leaders from the digital media and entertainment sectors, the second edition of the DNPA Conclave & Awards was held at the Shangri-La in New Delhi. This year's theme was 'Navigating Digital Transformation in the Media Industry'.
'Next Battle: Infodemic'
Lauding the work of Indian media and their contribution during the Covid-19 pandemic as ‘Karmyogis’, Anurag Thakur said “infodemic” is the next battle for which the industry should brace itself. The minister reiterated “Infodemic is here to stay".
“Indian media houses need to find ways to combat disinformation. We really need to look at ways to control the spread of misinformation on the internet,” Anurag Thakur urged from the podium of DNPA on Tuesday.
Talking about changes to be introduced in the regulatory framework for media, the I&B Minister highlighted that Indian media is self-regulatory but there's always a “cautionary note”.
“There are certain media houses, domestic and foreign, working with anti-Indian sentiments. Once the central agencies question them on their advances on not following the Law of the land, they shout and tell the world that media in India is in danger,” he said.
The Minister added, “Freedom of the press comes at a price. There shouldn't be a predetermined mindset and the story should not look biased. Nothing should be detrimental to the country… News industry ka kaam khabar pahunchane ka hai, banane ka nahin [The media industry's job is to deliver news, not manufacture it]."
The minister from DNPA’s stage pushed for Indian media houses to adopt the big tech to make the best of them. He reassured the industry that if required, the government would help the Indian media houses through policymaking to control the influence of big tech firms.
Anurag Thakur also advised media houses to get themselves attached to new-age journalism schools. The minister emphasised that in the age of social media, young journalists are picking up the wrong habits. It is the responsibility of the traditional media houses to make young journalists learn the best practices of the field.
“India should become the content hub… While the feeling of Indianness should rule supreme. I urge media houses to be our partner in development and the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047,” he said.