Contentment and humanism are the two important values that media practitioners must nurture in a neo-liberal democracy, N. Santosh Hegde, former judge of the Supreme Court has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the national conference on the theme, ‘Media in a neo-liberal democracy: Many challenges’ organised by the department of Journalism and Mass Communication, St Aloysius College (Autonomous), here on Tuesday.

“We cannot have exaggerated expectations about media. Media are as good as society we live in. This is because, just like other three estates of democracy, the fourth estate the media emerges from civil society. It is when society becomes responsible, ethical and upholds human values that we can expect the same from all institutions of democracy,” Justice Hegde said.

Speaking about compromising of ethics and allegations of corruption against certain sections of media, he said that when one becomes too greedy all principles and ethics are forgotten. “There was a case when a person was dying in an accident on the road and was begging for water, people were clicking photos and uploading them on social media. I do not think we must stoop to such inhuman levels,” Justice Hegde remarked.

Calling upon journalism students to not give up humanity even as they pursue their career, Justice Hedge said that it is only through genuine humanity that this world would bea better place.

Rector of St Aloysius Institutions, Fr Dionysius Vas, Principal Dr (Fr) Praveen Martis and HOD of Mass Communication department Dr (Fr) Melwyn Pinto were present.