SHILLONG : Information & Public Relations Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Saturday urged journalists in Meghalaya to remain committed to factual reporting and take on the growing challenge posed by misinformation and fake news spread through social media platforms.
Speaking at the World Press Freedom Day programme organised by the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR), Shillong Press Club, and the Meghalaya Editors & Publishers Association, Rymbui said Meghalaya continues to enjoy a healthy atmosphere of press freedom.
“When we talk about World Press Freedom Day in the context of Meghalaya, I am very happy that in this society, since time immemorial, there is freedom,” he said.
According to the minister, the state has maintained a cordial relationship between the government, the press, legal institutions, and traditional heads without interference in media functioning.
“I am very happy also that successive governments have never used or misused the press for their own benefit,” Rymbui stated.
He said Meghalaya remains fortunate at a time when several parts of the world and even India are witnessing restrictions and pressure on the media.
Highlighting the impact of social media after the Covid-19 pandemic, Rymbui expressed concern over the increasing spread of misinformation and the difficulty people face in identifying credible news sources.
“Since the time of Covid-19, we have seen that the value of the press is slightly coming down with the advent of social media. It is very difficult for people to judge which one is right and which one is wrong,” he said.
The minister also pointed out that sensational headlines and misleading content have become common in the digital age.
“No matter how good the news you report is, no one will read it. The heading is very, very important now,” he remarked, adding that many social media posts often feature headlines without proper or factual content.
Rymbui stressed that the freedom enjoyed by the press in Meghalaya should be used responsibly to strengthen society through truthful reporting.
“You have total freedom in Meghalaya. If you want to build a society which is vibrant, a society which can deliver to the people, you have the freedom to report anything you like, as long as it is a fact,” he said.
“But if you want to twist the fact, that is the problem,” he added.
The minister acknowledged that governments and agencies depend heavily on the media to understand ground realities and public concerns.
“We are not perfect but we need your freedom to report the facts, to report everything. Otherwise, the press fraternity will be taken over by social media, by bloggers, by something or the other,” Rymbui said.
Calling on journalists to adapt to changing times, he urged the media fraternity to remain dynamic in thought and continue fighting misinformation while protecting the people’s right to free expression.