Prime minister Manmohan Singh interacted with five editors for nearly two hours on Wednesday. It was the first of such regular meets that the prime minister has decided to hold.

The decision comes after the Congress Working Committee took note of the party’s dwindling public image and home minister P Chidambaram told a television news channel that the prime minister should speak more often.

It is, of course, a welcome move as the PM has addressed only three televised press meets in seven years. Especially at a time when the government is in the dock for a series of big-ticket scams, its handling of civil society protests and rising prices, there is nobody better than the head of the executive to reach out to the people.

On the other hand, however, the prime minister can only be expected to justify his government's performance or the lack of it at these press meets.

The question, therefore, arises whether the prime minister's press meets can indeed help restore his government's image.