Akangjungla
“Freedom of conscience, of education, of speech, of assembly are among the very fundamentals of democracy and all of them would be nullified should freedom of the press ever be successfully challenged.” - Franklin D Roosevelt
For years, news media or the press held the acclaimed position as the “Fourth Estate or Power or Pillar of Democracy” due to the important role it played to influence the state machinery and the system of rule. Regrettably, it is concerning to read reports of how journalists all over the globe are being targeted by various snooping mechanism. The state machinery and the press need not necessarily work hand and glove; however, a level of trust and dependence has to be exercise between the two institutions, otherwise the very basic fundamental of democracy will be challenged.
Regarded as the most imperative institution that has existed in a democratic state to maintain the relation between the government and the people, sadly, press in Nagaland today is slipping into an uncomfortable condition where it is seen as a threat, if not as a detrimental force.
The credibility of the media is questioned over and over again when it falls short to suit the demands of the readers, in other words the people, who devoid of fully understanding the circumstances often point fingers at the press with allegations of incompetency, giving in to money or bribe and lacking ability to do its duty. And here the ‘media’ encompasses the publishers, editors and journalists.
One situation the press in Nagaland goes through constantly is the reign of the government to censor the press with its restraining order to its officials or atleast that is what the “officials” claim. “I am not authorized to speak or I am not the nodal officer to speak to the media” has been the bludgeon that has challenged the press to deliver its role without limitations. Following up and investigating on developing stories have become a constant battlefield for press in Nagaland. This is just one aspect of the many challenges that strains the capability of the press.
Media is becoming an unpopular profession and getting the backlashes from all corners. The allegations on media for not speaking the truth, not unearthing corruptions, doing zero investigative reporting so on and so forth are not what every journalist, publisher or editor signed in when they respond to the call of this profession.
Here in Nagaland, outsiders walking into the newsroom and demanding money for their ‘auto phara or chai pani’ or barging into the office with sealed brown envelopes offering negotiations to manipulate a story is not a new thing. The most common tool that is used to suppress the press is throwing a defamation case. And not all media houses in Nagaland would like to run around in the court with the income it makes out of this line of work.
It is very tragic that in Nagaland, the press is clubbed together with the information and publicity department and social media portals and is expected to be hold accountable for public relations. Unless it is a flattering coverage, the state mechanism becomes really nervous and it reflects in the concerted attempts to repress the independence of the media.
The ever-changing scene of social media and internet portals are feeding uncensored reports to the ecstasy of many Naga people, who least care about the law, acts or for that matter even ethics of journalism. This explains why issuing apology, clarifications followed by counter rejoinders are so popular in Nagaland. Now the question is ‘can social media platforms be treated as news media?’ Or ‘should social media platforms be regulated?’ Yes, they should be regulated and hopefully, in India’ the Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 will make it happen. How effectively it will facilitate the press is the more difficult question that is left unanswered here.
Media is not anti-state or anti-people and therefore, media should not be treated like this. New forms of oppression will continue to challenge the strength of this pillar of democracy. In the face of these challenges, the only thing that can guarantee to uphold the integrity of media is for the media fraternity itself to collectively pursue sincere journalism, stand up overtly for freedom of press and above all, be each other’s support..
Comments can be sent to akangjungla@gmail.com
