Veteran journalist Mr Vinod Mehta has asked the media to do self-introspection and if necessary, self-correction in the coverage of sensitive news.

The race for news is in the right direction but the media should do self-introspection and self-correction whenever needed, the Outlook group's editorial advisor said during a panel discussion hosted by television journalist Mr Arnab Goswami on the occasion of the annual Mumbai Press Club awards here last night.

Mr Kumar Ketkar, chief editor of Marathi daily Dainik Divya Marathi, said media should not only focus on urban news but should also highlight rural issues. He said people in rural areas regularly watch TV channels.

Star TV CEO Mr Uday Shankar also agreed with Mr Mehta and Mr Ketkar that the race for news was in the right direction.

Mr Vinod Mehta, who was given the lifetime achievement award comprising trophy and Rs one lakh for his significant contribution to journalism, said he learnt his first lessons in the profession in Mumbai.

He said he owed a lot to Mumbai because the city had given a lot of job opportunities to him. Mehta also thanked the Press Club for honouring him and said, “To me this award is more than Padma Shree.”

Eminent journalist Mr Madhu Shetye was also awarded Rs one lakh and trophy for his contribution to the development of Press Club and fighting for rights of journalists.

The Union Minister for HRD, Communication and IT, Mr Kapil Sibal, who presented the awards, said the media had played a significant role in protecting democracy. Media had exposed major scams not only in India but also in other countries as well, he added.

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