Arkalgud Suryaprakash, chairman of the Prasar Bharati, said on Tuesday that the public broadcaster was on the road to autonomy. In fact, the very purpose of passing the Prasar Bharti Bill in 1990 was to make it an independent entity.

Participating in an interactive session with presspersons here, Dr. Suryaprakash said he was giving importance to bring in professionalism and improve the quality of programmes. “A day will come when our news channels will not hesitate to criticise government programmes. We require some more time to do it,” he said in response to a question on the national news channels keeping silent on issues such as misuse of funds meant for the implementation of various government schemes.

Many people were fed up with private news channels and were looking for alternatives. “I am suggesting such people to watch Doordarshan News channel. We have already brought in some changes in the look and feel of the channel. We are focusing on improving quality of regional channels like Chandana in Kannada,” he said.

The organisation would recruit new people wherever required and also make best use of talent already available with it. “There are many highly talented people in the institutions. I am encouraging them to contribute towards improving the quality of our programmes,” he said.

Dr. Suryaprakash, who is a native of Arkalgud in Hassan district, was here on a two-day visit to participate in ‘Paramparika Utsav’ held at Ramanathapura on Monday. The Hassan District Working Journalists’ Association felicitated him on Tuesday.


A day will come when national news channels will not hesitate to criticise government programmes. We require some more time to do it’

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