Press clubs must become institutional force to defend media freedom: N. Ram
N. Ram, Director of The Hindu Group, urged press clubs to act as institutional defenders of media freedom and credibility. He noted that journalism faces a dual crisis of public distrust and external threats, exacerbated by both political propaganda and internal professional failures.
Why it matters
The erosion of media credibility and the safety of journalists are critical issues for the health of democratic institutions globally.
Prominent media figure and Director of The Hindu Group N. Ram identified two interconnected challenges confronting journalism—an erosion of public trust in the media and growing threats to its freedom and independence—and called for press clubs across the country to play a proactive role in restoring credibility.
Speaking at the National Conclave of the Federation of Press Clubs in Hyderabad on Saturday (August 22, 2026), he said the credibility crisis could not be attributed entirely to forces outside journalism. Political propaganda, misinformation and disinformation on social media had contributed to the trust deficit, but sections of the media had also contributed to the problem through sensationalism, inadequate verification, communal rhetoric and excessive proximity to political and corporate interests.
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