The Hindu Business Line : Jaipal hints at Media Commission, Council

THE Union Government is considering appointing the third Media Commission (earlier two were Press Commissions) soon, according to Mr S. Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Culture.

Announcing this here on Sunday, Mr Jaipal Reddy said the commission would be called `Media Commission' and will look into the status of press and electronic media in the country. The last commission submitted its report more than 20 years ago. The Government will also constitute a Media Council, which will supersede the Press Council of India. The Government will amend the relevant Act in this regard.

Referring to the observation that what the Media Council could do when the current council had proved to be a toothless entity, Mr Reddy said it was the responsibility of newspaper owners to ensure an effective council.

The Minister was addressing a gathering after releasing the book Telugu Patrikalu by Mr Potturi Venkateswara Rao, a senior journalist and former Chairman of the Press Academy of Andhra Pradesh. Mr Jaipal Reddy regretted that newspapers by and large lacked plurality in content despite having diversified ownership.