The vultures with microphones are exploiting grief for clicks. Who’s to blame? Unemployment, apathetic public, or a complacent government
By Syed Mustafa Ahmad
Just like literature, journalism is the visual or practical interpretation of society, in addition to being its theoretical one. People may disagree with me on this theory, but journalism is an art that, while considering every aspect of society, presents its case to the people. To represent the entire society, it is essential to have a complete understanding of it. Journalism is about ensuring that by focusing on one aspect, you do not let another slip from your grasp. To look at every aspect from every angle and then choose a moderate path—that is journalism.
Societies are a confluence of differences. To paint them with emotional colours is ignorance and folly. Theft, murder, sexual assault, etc., are part of our society. To run away from them is to run away from life. Living alongside them is life. To present these situations in such a way that every news item comes forth in its true form, with minimal harm and maximum benefit, is what counts as journalism.
It is a consequence of our actions that journalism here has been handed over to inexperienced individuals. I cannot call these people journalists. To call them journalists is to disrespect this profession. Here, a person holding a microphone and accompanied by an inexperienced camera person, exaggerating events at an accident site, is called journalism. To be swept away in a wave of emotions and to appoint oneself as judge and jury is the mark of foolish journalism. To publicise private matters openly and to become a self-appointed mufti, judge, and law—this is the way of these so-called journalists. What kind of journalism is it to make crying and wailing people the decoration of your channels? Interviewing them in their half-dead state is foolishness. To question every Tom, Dick, and Harry, demand answers, and then present those statements as proof before the people—where does this fall under the category of journalism?
Many factors are behind this situation. The first is unemployment. Unemployment is at its peak in Kashmir. Therefore, uneducated and inexperienced “journalists” have begun to establish their foothold in this world. Spending a few thousand rupees, these people have donned the cloak of journalism. In this age of the internet, money can be made online. So, these ignorant individuals have also become part of this game. Some don’t even know how to use language correctly, and many don’t even have a grasp of history. One person’s attire is unsuitable for a journalist, while another is using abusive language. They can’t do any other work at home either, because for a person who has earned degrees, doing labour is considered dishonourable. Therefore, these so-called journalists have jumped into this profession.
The second reason is the journalistic system here. No one pays any attention to real journalists. They talk about the real issues of society. They know how to work on fundamentals. For them, journalism is a sacred profession. They used to earn from it and also tried to bring reform to society through it. Conditions became so bad that this institution failed to keep its home fires burning. So, they bid farewell to the profession itself and left in search of some other job. In contrast, today’s “journalists” are not journalists at all in the first place. People consider them clowns.
People, too, have fallen victim to materialism. In this environment, there must be breaking news. Exaggerating news while presenting it is also excessively liked by the public. In the race for materialism, it has become essential to have news every moment. How much profit was made and how many people have died—knowing all this has become more important. Who, in these conditions, would care about pure journalism? The news must reach the people, no matter who delivers it. This has further weakened the already crumbling edifice of journalism.
The third is the attitude of the government. If the government had taken measures making it difficult for any uneducated person to enter a sacred institution like journalism, there was a possibility that this profession would have served as a healing balm. There would have been a system within which journalists would be trained. They would receive complete training, and only in the end should they be permitted to enter this field.
To remedy this, the common people will have to become sensitive. If we want bandages on our wounds, we must ourselves avoid these so-called journalists. If someone has drowned in a river or another accident has occurred, we all need to be vigilant and prevent these incidents from becoming a show. Every accident brings with it various kinds of losses. Repeating it over and over afterwards and racing for money and fame in its wake only piles mountains of further misery onto the problems.
We live in a society. Everyone is aware of others’ misfortunes these days. This can lead to wrong consequences in the future. The crying and wailing of women, children, and men is now saved by these so-called journalists, who then simply leave. What happens next happens to the grieving family, which is already in despair. In the past, one had faint memories of the deceased, and gradually their face would fade from sight. Now, the image of a deceased person is uploaded repeatedly, and consolation is sought from it. We casually say, “What effect will this have on them!” They will be like the living dead.
Besides this, we should learn journalism ourselves. And we should support those journalists who know how to value journalism. As for these so-called journalists who are here now, the conscious members of society should make them understand what journalism is and what its requirements are. Everyone must wake up so that no further damage is done. One-sided reporting is not journalism; it is a sin and a mental torment.
My request to those individuals roaming with microphones in their hands is to please do your homework first, and then step into this world of journalism. Emotions and screams are not journalism. This is akin to going through a grind. If you people cannot apply a balm to our wounds, at least refrain from rubbing salt in them. Our wounds are already festering, and because of you, they are reopened every day.
sy***************@***il.com