‘Verify Before You Publish’: PTI CEO Vijay Joshi on Media Credibility

Press Trust of India (PTI) Editor-in-Chief and CEO Vijay Joshi on Saturday stressed the need for citizens to remain sceptical of the media, but not cynical, saying democracy depends on people who can question information and make informed decisions.

Speaking at Media Conclave 2026, organised by the Indian Institute of Management-Nagpur on the theme ‘Leading through Disruption: Managing Media Organisation in the Age of AI’, Joshi said democracy does not require citizens who blindly believe everything or reject everything.

“Democracy needs citizens who are able to question everything around them,” Joshi said, emphasising the importance of scrutinising economic data, political views and social metrics. He cautioned that dismissing all media as biased can lead to cynicism, which could ultimately allow manipulative voices to gain influence. Journalism, he said, plays a crucial role in helping people make informed choices, including decisions about whom to vote for and where to invest their money.

Joshi also highlighted the growing challenges posed by social media and artificial intelligence. Millions of users creating and sharing content have emerged as competition for traditional media organisations, while AI-generated fake content is making verification increasingly important.

The PTI chief said the fundamental principle of journalism remains “verify before you publish”, recalling instances of false reports about the death of public figures going viral on social media. He said journalism once competed primarily on exclusive stories, whereas the current environment has made speed the competitive benchmark. However, prioritising speed over verification risks undermining media credibility.

Joshi urged journalists to recognise the responsibility attached to maintaining public trust, particularly as social-media algorithms increasingly influence what people read and can amplify propaganda. Advising management students, he encouraged future leaders to seek dissent rather than rely on feedback that merely confirms their views. He also offered a simple rule for social-media users: “pause” before forwarding content and consider whether it could be false or driven by an agenda.