National Press Day Observed in Delhi

GG News Bureau
New Delhi 16 November : National Press Day 2025 was celebrated with a strong call for more rigid fact-checking, ethical standards, and preservation of press credibility in an age when artificial intelligence and rapid technological shifts have intensified the threat of misinformation. The event held at the Press Lounge in New Delhi was jointly organized by the Assam Information Centre and the North East Media Forum.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by the Deputy Director Sabir Nishat, who set the tone for the day by saying, even as AI-based tools are able to track the origin of misleading content and the presence of deepfakes, in the practice of journalism the guiding force has to be integrity and human conscience. “Misinformation moves like a storm—fast and disorienting,” he said. “Journalism must stand as a steady beacon that helps society see clearly.”

Keynote Highlights: ‘Stop, Check and Then Publish’

The need for accuracy by journalists was something that needed to be doubled, said Ganesh Bhatt, Bureau Chief of IANS, while delivering the keynote address. He opined that in an era dominated by artificial intelligence, the basic discipline of verification becomes all the more essential.
“Reporters must pause, verify, and then publish,” said Bhatt. “Repeated fact-checking remains our most powerful safeguard against the rising tide of falsehoods.”

Speaking on the theme “Safeguarding Press Credibility Amidst Rising Misinformation,” he strongly insisted that the truth is non-negotiable, adding that cross-examining every source with increased vigilance remains the only reliable antidote against misinformation.

Editorial Wisdom and the ‘Three Ws’

Reinforcing this was senior journalist Deepak Dewan, citing the timelessness in discipline that the journalistic method required. He reminded the gathering of the classic “three Ws-why, when and where”, urging reporters to treat them as the backbone of factual storytelling.

“Misinformation circulates at a speed we have never seen before,” he said. “This demands that journalists be both courageous and meticulous, reporting only what can stand up to scrutiny.”

His address resonated with many younger journalists in the audience who are navigating the increasingly blurred lines between news, personal opinions, and unverified digital content.

Ethics Must Lead Technology: Dr. Kumar Rakesh

While delivering the address, Dr Kumar Rakesh, Editorial Chairman, Global Governance News Group, and Samagra Bharat Media Group said that though technology was changing newsrooms, ethical journalism must be at the centre of all editorial decisions.

“AI can accelerate data processing, but human judgment is irreplaceable,” he said. “It is the journalist who interprets, questions, and contextualises information-something no machine can fully replicate.”

He emphasized that the future of journalism would depend on how responsibly newsrooms integrate technology without compromising on fairness, objectivity, and moral clarity.

 Call for Democratic Responsibility

Speaking later, journalist Kallol Bhowmik reminded attendees that democracy itself depends on the preservation of truth. “Readers rely on us to make sense of events,” he said. “When they are misled, it becomes the responsibility of the press to restore clarity.”

Honouring the Press Fraternity Earlier in the program, the gamochas, bouquets, and mementos were given as a felicitation to the esteemed guests and members of the press fraternity in homage to their contribution towards strengthening the media landscape of India. This added a touch of ceremony to the event, underlining the role of journalists as custodians of public trust.

The event ended with a vote of thanks by Pranjal Pratim Das, General Secretary of North East Media Forum, who thanked the speakers, participants, and the larger media fraternity. He reiterated that National Press Day reminds them of their shared commitment to upholding the best standards of journalism in these times when truth is being contested at every conceivable platform.