When Aaditya Thackeray responded to the legal notice issued by Satish Salian, a significant section of the print media gave his response prominent coverage.
However, now that a civil defamation suit has been filed against Aaditya Thackeray and other defendants, and the Court has issued suit summons and show-cause notices, the same section of the print media has failed to give this important judicial development the prominence it deserves.
The fundamental question is: If Aaditya Thackeray’s reply to a legal notice was considered important enough for prominent publication, why is a subsequent judicial proceeding, involving court-issued summons and notices, not being given similar importance?
This is not merely a question of publishing or withholding a news report. It raises serious concerns regarding journalistic impartiality, editorial independence, transparency and accountability.
What legal remedies or other appropriate measures may be pursued in response to such conduct is a separate matter.
However, the concerned reporters and editors must ask themselves, and explain to the public, the reasons behind this apparent disparity in coverage.
Is this merely an editorial decision, or are there external pressures, influences or vested interests behind the reluctance to prominently report even developments arising from judicial proceedings?
We are not drawing any premature conclusions. Nevertheless, these are legitimate questions that deserve clear and satisfactory answers from the concerned media organisations.
Freedom of the press is fundamental to democracy, but that freedom carries an equally important responsibility to report fairly, independently and without selective treatment.
The people of this country deserve to know why different editorial standards appear to be applied to the two sides of the same dispute, particularly when the subsequent development involves formal proceedings before a court of law.
The credibility of the media depends not only on what it chooses to publish, but also on whether important facts are selectively ignored or denied the prominence they deserve.
