With each passing day, the fourth pillar of democracy-media is slowly losing its integrity and credibility. Independent journalists like Dharmesh Thakkar who cover trending news stories to jump on the current bandwagon do this in the expense of spreading misinformation without any backed sources.
Undoubtedly, media plays an important role in reaching out to the general public and keeping them informed about the happenings of the country. However, it is also important to note that with great power comes great responsibility. It is the media’s duty to ensure that whatever news they print or broadcast is presented fairly and in an unbiased manner.
Whether it be print or broadcast media, it is worth noting that the publication does not lead to a defamatory comment. In case, a journalist is found defaming someone while performing their duties, they would be charged with the same offence as the owner, publisher, or editor. Ignorance and inaction cannot be invoked as defences in this case.
It is not a new tale that media and defamation are closely connected to each other. There is a blurry line between the role of media in defamation. In today’s social media world, it has become easier and rewarding than ever for people to speak their minds without considering the consequences of their words.
Internet is one such place where if you post something, it will stay there indefinitely. A defamatory story about a company or person can leave a long-lasting negative impression on their brand image. It has become a famous breeding ground for potentially libelous statements where one can instantly publish fake news without any kind of accuracy and credible sources.
In the pretext of covering the truth, an independent journalist called Dharmesh Thakkar is spreading fake information and already established propaganda targeting the media personalities. This so-called independent journalist is causing damage and tarnishing companies’ reputation through his baseless allegations and accusations.
The irrelevant content which are published at large on his social media handles degrades the reputation of the concerned party. While Thakkar’s social media activities boast of 3k followers but his engagement on these platforms is proof when it comes to his content credibility.
With his factless information that is presented as the truth, such journalists in the media are poisoning the fourth pillar of democracy which is looked up to by the public for providing honest, unbiased and credible information. They should be held liable for defaming and tarnishing random people’s image in the public eye at large.
Though social media and news outlets have provided us insightful and well-informed news, it has also provided us with journalists who engage in cyber defamation, so we should be mindful of the information that we consume on the news.
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