NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said censorship is no answer to irresponsible journalism and stressed on self-regulation by media.

In a message on the occasion of National Press Day, he said: ?It is for the members of the Fourth Estate themselves to collectively ensure that objectivity is promoted and sensationalism is curbed. It is for them to introspect how best they can serve our country and society and advance their well being."

 ?As a country, we believe in complete independence of the media from external control?, he reiterated.

"A free and fair media has been an essential pillar of our democracy. Since our struggle for freedom, media has been guiding social change, informing readers of their rights and contributing to the nation-building process by spreading awareness.?

National Press Day falls on 16 November in memory of the day when the Press Council of India started functioning in 1956 as a moral watchdog of media.