200 YEARS OF HINDI JOURNALISM: EXPERTS WARN OF AI EXISTENTIAL THREAT AMID PUSH FOR POSITIVE MEDIA.
200 YEARS OF HINDI JOURNALISM: EXPERTS WARN OF AI EXISTENTIAL THREAT AMID PUSH FOR POSITIVE MEDIA.
NEW DELHI -- Marking the 200th anniversary of Hindi journalism, industry leaders, legal experts, and media veterans convened to address a stark dichotomy: the global expansion of the Hindi language versus the existential threat Artificial Intelligence poses to human journalists and democratic truth.
Organized by the Ram Janaki Sansthan Positive Broadcasting House (RJS PBH) and spearheaded by National Convener Uday Kumar Manna, the 570th virtual seminar commemorated the launch of "Udant Martand," on 30 May India's first Hindi newspaper published in 1826. However, nostalgia quickly gave way to urgent warnings regarding the future of the fourth estate.
Deep Mathur- National OBSERVER RJS
RJSPBH National Observer Deep Mathur.
During the session, RJS PBH officially released its monthly documentation newsletter, archiving the organization's nationwide initiatives, including de-addiction campaigns, environmental protection drives, and tributes to late journalists and freedom fighters. Deep Mathur, former Director of Information and Publicity (MCD), lauded the release, recalling his tenure where Hindi journalism, despite facing historical marginalization compared to English media, remained the true voice connected to the common man.
Contrasting the technological anxieties, Dr. Sandeep Marwah, founder of Noida Film City and Chancellor of AAFT University, provided an optimistic view on the social and global reach of Hindi. Sharing anecdotes from recent travels to Australia, Nigeria, and Senegal, Marwah highlighted how Hindi is surviving and thriving across borders, driven by the diaspora and the immense popularity of Indian cinema and music. He noted that in Australia alone, nearly a million people keep the language alive in their daily lives.
To bridge the gap between regional journalists and modern media production, Dr. Marwah announced an open invitation to RJS PBH-affiliated journalists. He offered to host dedicated one-day workshops at Marwah Studios,Noida to train journalists in film making, television production, and media creation, directly addressing the skills gap highlighted by the AI debate.
The social implications of this technological shift were further amplified by Prof. KG Suresh, former Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and current Director of the India Habitat Centre,New Delhi . While praising the historical ethos of Hindi journalism—driven by the motto "Hindustaniyo ke hit" (in the interest of Indians)—he raised alarms about the deepening polarization and "man bhed" (differences of heart, not just opinion) in modern media.
Prof. Suresh brought vital attention to the economic precarity of district-level journalists. Noting that thousands of journalists lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic with virtually zero social security, he referenced a recent tragic incident in Meerut where a journalist died by suicide. Prof. Suresh challenged the government to move beyond rhetoric and establish concrete support systems, comparing the need for media support to current government initiatives for startups. Furthermore, he emphasized the critical need for media literacy to combat AI deepfakes and misinformation, noting that even senior journalists are frequently deceived by fabricated videos and false AI citations.
The economic and professional survival of journalists took center stage. Dr. Pavan Duggal, a Supreme Court advocate an international expert in Cyber and AI Law, delivered a sobering assessment of the media's current trajectory. He warned that AI is no longer a Western phenomenon but a direct threat to Indian journalism jobs. "If you do not understand this phenomenon, your current jobs will soon be eliminated," Duggal stated, explaining that publishers will increasingly rely on AI to generate content, rendering human staff obsolete.
Duggal cautioned that by the end of this year, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could emerge, potentially ten times more powerful than current models, leading to Super Intelligence within two years. He highlighted the severe economic and social implications of algorithms making decisions, from rejecting bank loans to manipulating human emotions.
A central debate emerged around the application of AI. When Uday Kumar Manna questioned how journalists should navigate algorithmic manipulation and AI tools, Dr. Duggal provided a sharp analogy. "Consider AI like a 'Rampuri knife'. You can use it to cut vegetables, or you can use it to commit murder. The responsibility lies with you," Duggal explained. He strictly advised against sharing personal data with AI systems, warning that AI is not a friend, but an entity designed to profile, please, and manipulate users, often hallucinating or providing entirely false information to maintain user engagement.
A central debate emerged around the application of AI. When Uday Kumar Manna questioned how journalists should navigate algorithmic manipulation and AI tools, Dr. Duggal provided a sharp analogy. "Consider AI like a 'Rampuri knife'. You can use it to cut vegetables, or you can use it to commit murder. The responsibility lies with you," Duggal explained. He strictly advised against sharing personal data with AI systems, warning that AI is not a friend, but an entity designed to profile, please, and manipulate users, often hallucinating or providing entirely false information to maintain user engagement.
"The singing of 14-year-old folk singer Tanya and her mother, a remarkable talent from Aurangabad, Bihar, left the participants spellbound."
The event also focused heavily on the social impact of positive media. Uday Kumar Manna showcased Tanya, a 14-year-old singer from Aurangabad, Bihar, who performed live. Manna used her as a case study for positive journalism, emphasizing the need to spotlight rural talent and cultural arts that are often ignored by mainstream, conflict-driven media.
Looking forward, Manna announced specific upcoming initiatives, notably a 7-day nationwide Independence Day program scheduled from August 9 to August 15. The initiative aims to promote "Nation First" journalism, counteracting the prevailing negativity bias where "if it bleeds, it leads." Uday Shankar Singh Kushwaha, the newly empowered Noida in-charge for RJS PBH, confirmed preparations for the August events, emphasizing the expansion of the positive media network.
Looking forward, Manna announced specific upcoming initiatives, notably a 7-day nationwide Independence Day program scheduled from August 9 to August 15. The initiative aims to promote "Nation First" journalism, counteracting the prevailing negativity bias where "if it bleeds, it leads." Uday Shankar Singh Kushwaha, the newly empowered Noida in-charge for RJS PBH, confirmed preparations for the August events, emphasizing the expansion of the positive media network.
The interactive session was attended by Prakhar Varshney, Prashant Yadav, Durga Prasad Mishra, Yashika Mittal, Brahamanand Jha, Khushboo Jha, Kanak Mathur, Genia Chadda, Joginder Singh, Bharti Singh, Himanshu Singh, Sonu Kumar Mishra, Ashish Ranjan, Dr. Arunesh Kumar Dwivedi, Brijnandan Prasad, Dayaram Sarolia, Karan Singh Porwal, Dr. Jai Bhagwan Dahiya, Dr. Kamlesh Sisodia, Sudeep Sahu, Ishaq Khan, Dr. Kavita Parihar, Rati Choubey, Mamta Karan Porwal, Om Sapra, Pawan Kumar, R S Kushwaha, Rajni Kant Shukla, Rakesh Manchanda, Sonu Singh, Sunil Kumar Singh, Sweety Paul, Umesh Thakur, Shubham Mishra, Sonali Singh, Mayank, and Akanksha, among others.
The seminar concluded with a consensus that while AI is an unavoidable tool that must be mastered, human empathy, rigorous verification, and the foundational ethics of "Udant Martand" remain the only true defense against the automation of truth. As Dr. Duggal summarized, "AI is a very good servant, but a very bad master. We must never let AI become the master."
The seminar concluded with a consensus that while AI is an unavoidable tool that must be mastered, human empathy, rigorous verification, and the foundational ethics of "Udant Martand" remain the only true defense against the automation of truth. As Dr. Duggal summarized, "AI is a very good servant, but a very bad master. We must never let AI become the master."
Akakaha Manna
Head Creative Team- RJS PBH
8368626368.
www.rjspbh.com
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