PR-war between God and Demon, who has won it ??? “There is need for making a fine delicate balance between fake news and freedom of speech” -- says Govt :::: Challenging times in information era ..... Unless we catch 'next flight' we will be left on the departure lounge !!

These days airports are in news. Flights are getting rescheduled and delayed. There are technical glitches and also air pollution and so on. 

But these also talk about our lives. The competition is fierce. What's the competition about ? No one would bother about you - if you come second. There is a competition to control future. But who has started controlling the Future ?

Technology is one answer. Unless we catch the 'next flight' we will be left on the departure lounge. That's life today.

This is the era of Artificial Intelligence, and also an era where the friendship or any kind of relationship is actually laid on the foundation of being Artificial. There is nothing in real. There are pretenders.

Now comes Fake News. And it is a serious challenge.   

The issue of Fake News has been flagged off in a report by a Parliamentary panel. 

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has for records now appreciated the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, chaired by BJP lawmaker Nishikant Dubey.

The Minister says the panel had offered several constructive suggestions that would shape the proposed regulatory framework. 

“There is a need for making a fine delicate balance between fake news and freedom of speech,” he added. 

Responding to a separate query on online betting and money-gaming platforms, the minister said the Modi government has enacted a strong legal framework to curb such activities. “Modi government never shies away in taking strong action against such misconduct,” he said. On complaints regarding television channels allegedly spreading false information, Vaishnaw said both the government and the Press Council of India examine such cases and take action wherever required.

But all these said have little meaning. We will go step by step. 

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, chaired by BJP member Nishikant Dubey, has asked the government to define the term 'fake news'.

It also said that the government must incorporate suitable clauses in the existing regulatory framework for the media to combat misinformation and protect freedom of speech. Some of these aspects have actually have interesting implications. 

Now an interesting facet is to understand the realism that this is also an era of perception war. Thus, the so-called 'public-relations' communication make a lot of difference. But mind you once a British writer had said -- the God has always lost the public-relations war with the mammon. 

The statement in effect reflects a common observation within religious commentary that society often prioritizes the pursuit of material wealth over spiritual values. 

Eberhard Arnold has tried to argue that -- God or Mammon; spirit or money. 

Spirit is the deep relationship between living things, the innermost connection between them. In contrast of course Mammon is related to materialism.

So who wins ? And who actually wins ?  There is another element about our lives. The more successful or great we are both as a nation, community or individuals; the more fearful and 'touchy' we become.

Hence. there is also a thin line border between Criticism and character assassination.

So, Fake news can be defined or redefined in numerous forms and shapes. That Rahul Gandhi talks about Vote Chori every time he loses is --- a mere allegation, an expose or  a fake news.

There can be many other examples. The ultimate take away is things in human hands and minds.   

Journalism is passing through a different and difficult stage. But certain basic things have not changed. Like Netas -- journalists are considered experts on any or at least numerous subjects. 

Netas should be left to destiny and the people who vote them.

But for journalists -we may have something to talk about. 

The multiple forces of political hostility, corporate interference and editors being not-editors and pushing personal agenda combined with 'misinformation' have polarised public opinion. But in the end; the readers must not forget that behind every para or even an intro or the headline lies a human story. 

That story is of journalist; it is also about his/her equation with the desk person. 

Newsrooms - many working journalists and those who have quit journalism would tell - has so many 'donkeys'. 

One is actually like a left 'luggage'  at the airport which is busy round the clock and often has announcement about flights delayed or canceled. 

ends