Akangjungla
Who is a real journalist? It is one thing to answer this according to the written definitions and entirely different from how journalists actually perform their duty. The matter of fact that media or the press is one of the cornerstones of democracy cannot be conveniently dismissed or ignored. Freedom of press is considered as a privilege for the journalist and often assumed as simply exercising the command that comes along with the profession. There is no denying that freedom of expression is a human right and so much can be stated around this right.
Over the last eight decades, the newspaper industry in Nagaland has gone through different phases and also produced a number of journalists who stayed unshaken in their commitment, despite not being in the most comfortable or undemanding profession. It will be educative for many readers to be informed that ‘Ao Milen’, reportedly established since 1933, is one of the first and oldest published newspapers from Nagaland. It is also the first vernacular newspaper published in Nagaland and till date, continues to hit the market with their publication. Thus, it won’t be wrong to say that Nagaland journalism has come a very long way.
Journalism is respected for its power to craft stories that can influence individuals, institutions and the world around. The reputation of journalism mostly rest upon the journalists. Conversely, journalists are of course not without fault and it reflects on how journalism is perceived. Ethical journalist is something that journalism in Nagaland is wanting today. Media fraternity in Nagaland are not necessarily preoccupied with issues of freedom of expression, welfare of the journalists, and running after stories, but generally engaged in covering daily events of welcome gate inaugurations, sports meets, editing press releases of cleanliness drives, projects carried out in fulfillment of curriculum etc.
It is also not new to this generation of journalists to face tests to break stories and write investigative stories. The situation has taken a further step back now in terms of deficiency to investigate corruptions for the interest of public welfare. Journalists in Nagaland do not hesitate to act like the public relations of the civil societies, institutions and even the government departments. A good percentage of the news published every day is copy-pasted from the Naga News of the Department of Information and Public Relations. Most of the news is around what events have happened in the last 24 hours. It won’t be wrong to say that newspapers in Nagaland are speaking the language of what it is being fed to them.
It is also true that open communication and access to information are most essential for confirming, cross-examining and delivering truth-based news or stories. Today, journalists are often heard citing lack of information and being denied access to information as reasons for not getting their job done. While the threats to global media freedom are real and worrying, the restricted access can be either taken as an opportunity to assert the journalist’s rights, integrity, and perseverance, and on the other hand, it can simply be the pretext for not upholding the guiding principle of real journalism. Ironically, the latter mostly prevail.
Despite the questions raised and negative reactions, the role of a journalist is always relevant and there is much to illuminate the legacy media. In the face of the upsetting journalistic trends, celebrated journalist and author Henry Anatole Grunwald’s statement should flicker optimism. He has stated that - “Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.”
And perhaps, to keep journalism speaking in Nagaland, the solution would be a new breed of journalists who can think critically and consciously to chart a new path for the future of journalism. While the making of that new breed is awaited, the present generation of journalist can still rescue journalism in Nagaland. An honest self-reflection and criticism would be required to create the new breed in the now to pave a more inclusive path for journalism; rethink new and varied ways of creating accountability in the same given spaces; and also fully understanding that by doing so the value of a journalist would not be devalued or terminated..
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