Bangalore, Nov 20: Former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde has favoured “some amount” of legal regulations over functioning of the media, citing factors like “paid news” and the fourth estate being used by vested interests.
Speaking to PTI here today, the former Supreme Court judge said mediapersons should also be accountable to curb false and suppressive stories.
Supporting “some amount” of regulators over functioning of the media, Hegde pointed to “many instances where media has been used by some vested interests.”
“Conversation between Niira Radia and Ratan Tata gives the impression...yes...there are purchasable commodities in the media,” he said.
He also noted a recent newspaper report which carried the statement of former Lokayukta SP, Madhukar Shetty, who said the anti-corruption agency in Karnataka was not free from corruption and that there were black sheep in it.
“Is it honest journalism to release (the story) four months later (the comments made by Shetty)? You suddenly choose to publish at a point of time when it suits certain people. If that's the motivation, would it be fair journalism?,” Hegde asked.
