“Empathy Will Help Journalists Beat AI”: President Murmu at Ramnath Goenka Awards

New Delhi- President Droupadi Murmu presented the 19th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in the capital on Wednesday, emphasizing the crucial role of empathy in journalism amid growing artificial intelligence (AI) disruption.

Addressing the gathering, President Murmu underscored the importance of free and fair journalism for democracy, asserting that well-informed citizens are vital to sustaining democratic processes. She stressed the need for thriving newsrooms, robust ground reporting, and dedicated research wings to uphold quality and accuracy in journalism.

Highlighting the changing media landscape, the President noted the shift from traditional revenue models to hybrid ones and advocated for keeping readers at the core to maintain journalistic integrity.

On AI’s increasing role in content creation, she warned of the dangers posed by deep fakes and biased narratives, urging proactive campaigns to educate citizens, particularly the youth, on recognizing misinformation.

“Machines may compile and edit reports, but they lack empathy. That human touch will always set journalists apart,” she remarked, asserting that journalism rooted in human values will endure despite technological advancements.