New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi on August 17 said newspapers and news agencies should function like an interface between the government and the people and advocated a self-imposed code of discipline as far as news presentation was concerned.

Inaugurating a Hindi news agency 'Day-Night News Service', he said although journalism was traditionally tilted towards politics, the media should also highlight the difficulties and the plight of common people, particularly the downtrodden, and bring it to the knowledge of legislators and the government.

Suggesting that the media should avoid sensational news items that might create controversy among people, Joshi felt that over the years journalism had become very competitive in terms of coverage, content and technology.

Stating that the quality of debates in legislatures were comparable with the best anywhere in the world, the Speaker felt that the media should take note of the informative, suggestive and positive aspects of the speeches made by the members of the legislature.

PTI