Journalists are expected to handle queries frankly but diplomatically. A straightforward macho approach may cause and has often caused problems. This boldness, rather brashness, is the reason that British media has often gone haywire. They remain a macho lot checking for any right or wrong move of the political parties. This behaviour may seem quaint, but it certainly helps to keep off corruption. At a time when the whole pond of fish is afflicted by the demon of corruption, the British political system is a relatively healthy lot. Ministers' conduct is deeply scrutinised, and a true picture is put forth before the masses to make the right choices. Already three cabinet ministers in the recent past have been exposed and have lost their jobs due to their own wrongdoing.

The ones protesting against free press argue that 24-hour rolling news channels pick up disjointed, often false segments to produce scoops and cover stories. They need stuff to feed their news slots. They go to any extent for this kind of coverage, even misleading the public.

Journalists should be as transparent as possible about sources and methods, so audiences can make their own assessment of the information. Even in a world of expanding voices, “getting it right” is the foundation upon which everything else is built – context, interpretation, comment, criticism, analysis and debate. The larger truth, over time, emerges from this forum.