Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari today called for a broad national consensus to put in place an appropriate framework of media regulation. He said it should have combination of voluntary initiative, executive regulation and legislative action. Inaugurating the National Press Day celebration in New Delhi, Mr. Ansari said, India can take a cue from other democracies like the United States and United Kingdom in dealing with the media regulation.

He also suggested publication of a White Paper on the subject. Expressing concern over the new trends in technological development and media conglomeration, which emphasis on commercial values, Mr. Ansari said, it poses challenges to traditional public service values in news broadcasting.

Mr. Ansari expressed hope that all stakeholders – the government, media organisations, civil society, advertisers and the audience and readership of the media – will address the various concerns regarding the profession and work towards securing and defending the public good.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni on this occasion stressed the need for self regulation by the media itself. The Minister said that media credibility is important as people have seen paid news syndrome.