Editor’s Guild of India reports on Challenges to Journalism in Chhattisgarh
Bastar, March 30 (MExN): There is a sense of fear in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, and every journalist working there feels that s/he is not safe.
This conclusion was reached by a Fact Finding Team (FFT) of the Editors’ Guild of India that verified and assessed the recent reports of the arrests of journalists in Chhattisgarh, threats and challenges faced by journalists in the State, and challenges to the profession of journalism. The report, titled ‘Challenges to Journalism in Bastar’ was compiled by the FFT consisted of Prakash Dubey, General Secretary, Seema Chishti, Executive Committee Member and Vinod Verma, Executive Committee Member.
On the one hand journalists in Bastar have to deal with Maoists “who are becoming more and more sensitive about the reports appearing in the media” and on the other hand, the police “wants the media to report as and what they want,” reported the FFT of the condition of journalists in the conflict hit region of Bastar in Chhattisgarh.
In a deterrent to objective reporting from the region, the State Government reportedly wants the media to “see its fight with the Maoists as a fight for the nation and expects the media to treat it as a national security issue, and not raise any questions about it,” stated the report.
Journalists posted in Bastar said that they cannot “dare to travel” to the conflict zone to report because they cannot report the facts on the ground.
The journalists working in the region, in Bastar as well as capital city Raipur, remained certain that their phones were being tapped by the State. However, the administration denied this, and said that there was a “perception gap” and they would try to change this.
Which side of journalism?
A journalist working in Bastar expects to be asked “Which side of journalism?” are they on, reported the FFT. As local journalists put it, there are three categories of journalists in Bastar: pro-government, not-so-pro government and pro-Maoists or “Maoist sympathizers.”
And, often, journalists get categorised due to the ensuing circumstances. For instance, since corruption is rampant in Bastar, some (so-called) journalists earn more money for not publishing a news item, than for publishing it. “In a conflict zone like Bastar, they are the favourites of the local police and other officials,” observed the FFT.
Visiting journalists are most “disliked” by police and local administration as “their reports seem pro Maoist because they go inside and talk to the people and anything coming from the people usually contradicts the government’s version and hence it is labeled as pro Maoists or anti government.”
“If you want to analyze anything independently, you cannot do it because they can question your intentions and can ask bluntly, Are you with the government or with the Maoists?” admitted the Chief Editor of an old and reputed newspaper to the FFT. Worse still, “Both sides feel that what you are writing is wrong.”
“Now we ask Maoist organizations to send photographs and press releases. We publish them as we receive them because we don’t want to explain every single line we are writing to them. Similarly the police expect us to publish its version so most of the journalists print their press releases as well without asking any questions,” a senior local journalist said.
Other threats
Several senior journalists confirmed to the FFT that a controversial group called the Samajik Ekta Manch is funded and run by the police headquarters in Bastar—the organisation has been held responsible by journalists for initiating attacks against them in the guise of a “citizen’s group.” According to the journalists, it is an urban reincarnation of Salwa Judum.
When asked, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Raman Singh, said that he is aware of most of the incidents of pressure on journalists and he is concerned about it. He said that his government is in favour of free and fair media. He had called a meeting of top officials and some editors and formed a monitoring committee which will be consulted for any cases related to the media and journalists.
The Chief Minister had also instructed the administration for better coordination and cooperation. However, the FFT informed that a journalist was arrested shortly after the FFT meeting with him, suggesting that “there is no shift in policy.”
“The government should respect democratic rights and should give benefit of doubt to the journalists,” asserted a senior journalist from Chhattisgarh.
However, journalism itself suffers from some glitches, noted the FFT report. “There are only a few journalists who can understand the language/dialect tribal people speak. There is not a single full time journalist who comes from the tribes,” it stated.
Then, newspapers and other media houses are appointing journalists as stringers in the remote areas without any formalities. “These journalists gather news, collect advertisements and arrange the distribution of the newspapers too. They generally survive on the commission they get from advertisement collections or they rely on other professions for the same,” observed the FFT, recommending a “separate and detailed” report on stringers.
Finally, the report noted that there is no mechanism in place for accreditation of those journalists who are working beyond the district head quarters. “So when the question of identity arises government conveniently denies that someone is/was a journalist. Media houses also disown them because they see them as liability beyond a point.”
FFT maintained the view that newspaper organizations should take care while appointing stringers and give them adequate protection.
