Uproot evils like paid news from media: PM

There should be no outside control on the media, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Monday while stressing that it should focus on issues of national importance and uproot evils like paid news.

"I am very happy that our media is independent... it has an important role in the country. There should be no external control on the media but representatives from the media should find a way that would promote objectivity rather than sensationalism," Manmohan Singh said while issuing a postage stamp in honour of the late Puran Chandra Gupta, founder of the Hindi daily Dainik Jagran.

He also expressed concern over paid news in journalism.

"The media should increase the coverage of issues of national importance. I hope that to uproot the evils like paid news, media will make an attempt and be successful," he said.

Lauding the contribution of Gupta in the realm of journalism, Manmohan Singh said: "He promoted fearless and independent journalism throughout his life and this kind of journalism is very important for any democracy."