President Droupadi Murmu addressed the evolving challenges and opportunities brought by Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the 19th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards on Wednesday. She stressed that while AI can disrupt sectors, human empathy in journalism will ensure its survival. The event, highlighting the importance of free and fair journalism for democracy, also celebrated the legacy of Ramnath Goenka.

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• President Murmu highlighted AI’s disruption in journalism, stating it can’t replace the empathy rooted in human values.
• She emphasized that a thriving newsroom with fresh ideas and rigorous research is crucial for the growth of journalism.
• The President praised The Indian Express for its high-quality reporting and adherence to rigorous standards.
• Murmu urged media organizations to focus more on ground-level reporting to strengthen journalism’s core.
• AI’s threat, including deep fakes, was raised as a concern, with an emphasis on educating citizens, especially youth, about these dangers.
• President Murmu honored Ramnath Goenka’s legacy of courage for press freedom, particularly during the Emergency.
• Goenka’s commitment to social causes and his association with Mahatma Gandhi were highlighted as key elements of his legacy.
• The Ramnath Goenka Awards have been celebrating excellence in journalism since 2006 across various media formats.
• The awards cover 13 categories including investigative journalism, sports, politics, and regional language contributions.
• The President stressed that without well-informed citizens, democratic processes lose their significance.