R ARIVANANTHAM
NEW DELHI, NOV 16
In a powerful collective call to safeguard India’s information ecosystem, leading voices from media and government came together at the National Media Centre in New Delhi to mark National Press Day, with the theme “Safeguarding Press Credibility amidst Rising Misinformation.” At a time when artificial intelligence is accelerating content creation — and misinformation — speakers underscored that the responsibility of protecting press credibility now rests more heavily than ever on journalists, institutions and society at large.
Union Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw graces National Press Day Event Held in New Delhi
Let accuracy take over both, Speed & engagements in Traditional & the social media respectively: CEO, Press Trust of India
The Press Council of India was set up by an Act of Parliament as a… pic.twitter.com/Eq75Bu6VXX
— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 16, 2025
- PCI Chairperson: “AI can never replace the Human Mind — journalism is guided by judgement, conscience and responsibility.”
- PTI CEO: “Let accuracy prevail over speed and algorithm-driven engagement; truth must not be sacrificed for clicks.”
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw calls for ethical, responsible journalism to protect democracy’s information ecosystem
Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Railways, and Electronics & IT Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw graced the occasion, joined by Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan, I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju, and PCI Secretary Shubha Gupta.
“AI can never replace the Human Mind”: PCI Chairperson
National Press Day 2025
Empowering Voices, Strengthening Democracy💠National Press Day (16 November) marks the establishment of the Press Council of India in 1966 under the Indian Press Council Act, 1965
💠The idea for the Council was first proposed by the First Press… pic.twitter.com/7JvgpCRytD
— PIB India (@PIB_India) November 16, 2025
Setting the tone for the event, Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Prakash Desai, Chairperson of the Press Council of India (PCI), warned against the rising tide of misinformation magnified by AI tools. “AI can never replace the Human Mind,” she asserted.
“The judgement, conscience and sense of responsibility that guide every journalist must prevent the spread of misinformation.”
She emphasised that journalism demands honesty, accuracy and unwavering commitment to verified information, especially when technology is increasingly misused to distort facts.
Justice Desai highlighted PCI’s dual mandate — to safeguard press freedom while ensuring that journalistic standards remain uncompromised. She detailed PCI’s committees, fact-finding mechanisms, and internship programmes aimed at fostering ethical, responsible journalism.
She also stressed on the need for financial security and welfare for journalists, noting that a protected, independent journalist is better positioned to uphold truth.
PTI CEO’s Call: “Let accuracy take precedence over both speed and engagement”
In a compelling keynote address, PTI CEO Vijay Joshi offered a sharp critique of the current media environment — one where speed and digital engagement often overshadow accuracy.
“Let accuracy take over speed in traditional media and algorithm-led engagement in digital media,” Joshi urged.
He warned that paid news, advertorials and yellow journalism had already eroded public trust, while digital bubbles and platform-driven biases were further distorting reality.
Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said: “We saw how quickly truth and misinformation could mix. With AI, this danger has multiplied.”
Underscoring PTI’s legacy of truth, fairness and independence since its founding by 99 newspapers, he said journalism is a public service that must remain agenda-free.
He highlighted PTI’s multi-layered Fact Check initiative as key to countering misinformation and emphasised the need to train young journalists in ethics, verification and critical thinking.
“Press freedom is not a licence to pollute the information ecosystem,” Joshi declared. “It is a responsibility anchored in trust.”
A Collective Responsibility in the AI Age
Speakers agreed that the rise of AI-generated misinformation demands stronger newsroom systems, ethical clarity and a recommitment to public trust.
- PCI reiterated vigilance against misuse of AI tools
- Media leaders stressed investing in verification and training
- Government representatives highlighted the press as democracy’s “eyes and ears”
As India steps deeper into a digitally mediated future, National Press Day served as a decisive reminder: press credibility must be protected not just by institutions, but by every journalist and every citizen who values truth.
