MOKOKCHUNG, MAY 31 (MExN): The Mokokchung Press Club (MPC) has expressed concern over the increasing public confusion in Nagaland between professional journalism and unregulated media content, and urged the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) to initiate statewide media literacy and journalism ethics programmes.
In a petition addressed to the Director of DIPR, MPC highlighted the growing trend of various digital content producers—including YouTubers, social media influencers, WhatsApp and Facebook group admins, and informal collectives—being mistaken for professional journalists. It noted that while such platforms have democratized information, the tendency to equate all forms of media content with journalism poses a risk to the credibility and public trust in the press.
“In today’s digital environment, a wide range of actors now produce news-like content, often without attribution, editorial standards, or accountability,” the petition stated. It cautioned that this convergence between unregulated digital content and professional journalism “undermines the profession’s integrity and misleads or misinforms the public.”
The press body warned that the ongoing collapse of public distinction between credible journalism and engagement-driven content risks leading to a situation where “nobody knows who to trust, and everyone with a smartphone becomes a ‘journalist,’ regardless of ethics, accuracy or accountability.”
The MPC, while recognising the role of digital platforms in broadening public discourse, called for a clear and coordinated response to safeguard public understanding of journalism’s role.
To address the situation, the Mokokchung Press Club proposed the following steps for consideration by the DIPR.
Launch a state-wide media literacy campaign in collaboration with schools, colleges, churches, and civil society organisations to help the public distinguish factual reporting from opinion, propaganda, or misinformation.
Support training, fellowships, and workshops for district-level journalists and grassroots media workers, with a focus on digital verification, journalism ethics, and rebuilding public trust in media. Emphasising that the appeal should not be seen as a call for censorship, the Club clarified that the initiative is aimed at clarity, education and the protection of the integrity of the press. “The Mokokchung Press Club stands ready to collaborate on any initiative that promotes truth, credibility, and ethical journalism,” the petition concluded.
