Dr Rao VBJ Chelikani
How can communication between the media and civil society organisations, including the Resident Welfare Associations be improved? Relations between these two entities is being debated worldwide, but we might say that the situation is worsening in India, since successive governments have been showing incremental authoritarian tendencies. Further journalism as a profession is in crisis. As N. Ram, former Editor-in-Chief, the Hindu said in Kozhikode in his lecture in memory of M.R. Veerendra Kumar, former MD of ‘Mathrubhumi’, several Indian television news channels and mainstream newspapers are clearly engaged in propagandising and manufacturing consent for the ideology, policies, and actions of the ruing party. However, there is evidence that independent, investigative journalism is alive, active and productive. Further, there is an avalanche of ‘Social Media’ and flooding by easily accessible ‘Artificial Intelligence’ platforms to every individual which oblige a journalist to review his or her mission.
Yet, there remains an indispensable need for independent and autonomous journalism to fight against all tyrannies that might be exercised, naturally by those who are wielding political power and bureaucratic authority. To report critically about governmental acts, facts and statements and the criticism of the opposing political parties is a professional responsibility of a journalist in a democracy. A journalist’s mission is to see that the expressions of human freedoms are not suppressed, and to promote democratic communications in society.
The present problem is that media institutions and managements are giving excessive importance to political news and ‘paid news’ from the patrons, and are mostly dependent upon the reigning political party’s patronage for their survival. The media, both printed and audio-visual is covering disproportionately the people involved in political power-struggle and the relations between the political parties, ignoring largely the other actors and issues in social governance. The journalists are thereby prevented from fulfilling their social responsibility to contribute to social and human development. To evolve from a formal political democracy to a vibrant socio-economic democracy, we further need to accelerate the process of peaceful and harmonious social dialogue, as an art of ‘living together’ for better life.
We have to recognize that ultimately social development, human development and peaceful and mutually-enriching relations among people depend more upon the social activists and professionals who are stakeholders, rather than upon the politicos who would want to exercise power over others as long as possible, and to decide upon others’ destinies. A society will be dynamic and capable of transforming itself profoundly, where there are plenty of active associations of civil society, professional associations like that of the journalists, the associations of senior citizens, the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and other individual social activists, who are neither political people nor bureaucrats. Usually, these are autonomous, self-managed and self-financed bodies whose office bearers do not receive any salaries or honorarium, and certainly not out of tax money.
Democratic Responsibility
The media, considered as the fourth pillar of democracy after the Legislature, the Government and the Judiciary, has been playing the role of a watchdog of the power exercised by the rulers. The Media's role is not only to provide all information in good language, but also to help people to verify and choose the correct information, without asserting what is right. It must help keep power transparent and accountable. Hence, by vocation, the Media has to be analytical and critical without any fear, hostility or favour. It cannot act merely as ‘delivery boys’ of the ‘facts’ stated by the authorities to be swallowed without a pinch of salt by the readers or viewers. Governments, motivated by political party interests, have a tendency to impose the official truth and become authoritarian under the pretext of internal security and external menace.
Political leaders’ statements of complete denials and personal attacks are being reported, often verbatim and in harsh language, leaving the public in complete confusion and at a loss to understand where else lies the truth. While reporting those statements, most reporting journalists do not include any third opinion or comments from independent sources, such as civil society activists and scholars, which would aid assist readers to form their own judgment.
Field reporters, particularly in regional languages, are building close ties with local political figures who glitter with power and money. The reporters often use their file photos with their followers and names to create stories. In the process, the activities of civil society organisations and RWAs and the local intelligentsia are neglected. Any event becomes news-worthy if a politician is involved, even as a guest, while the activists who organised the event are kept in the shadows. The vocabulary used in reporting, particularly in regional and local languages, is very feudal in connotation. Political and administrative authorities and the governments are considered as superior to citizens, much like the past royal governments. Citizens are depicted as submitting petitions or imploring for their grace, kindness, and favour. In a democratic context, where the citizen is collectively sovereign and is feeding the public servants with tax money, this narrative is outdated and inappropriate. The language used does not reflect equal respect among all citizens; some are portrayed as more equal than others. In Telugu, words like submission, vinathi and vignyapti, etc. convey reverence and obedience to authority.
The present situation underlines the need for free and independent media professionals to keep the democratic process alive. Hence, whenever a governmental or administrative measure curtails the freedom of expression of the media, civil societies should join them to defend their rights. This is all the more important, as the Indian media is not rated very high in the Freedom of Press Index released recently by the ‘Reporters without Borders’.
A Journalist has to Participate in and Promote Social Democracy.
The Media should consider that the state and its governments are for society, not vice versa. A strong state and national development do not automatically mean the development of its citizens. It is the Media and the CSOs that should contribute to enhance social and human development in society. We are also very concerned about the diminishing interest in reading newspapers or in watching only news headlines on TV, especially among the younger generations. They are cynical about media overloaded with political news and prefer direct communication through Social Media, which covers all aspects of personal and social relations.
Hence, the media should integrate and link up with social media instead of opposing it under the pretext that it spreads fake news. Authorities seek to control social media citing national security and the risk of ‘disinformation’, but at the same time, more and more of those in or seeking power use it to communicate and engage directly with the public.
Better Communications
Neither media nor civil society organisations currently have strategies to work together. Capacity building is needed for CSOs so that they have the skills and tools required to cooperate with the Media and engage with the public. The civil society activists and the managers of RWAs should learn how to draft and communicate the news of the event they organized. Regular consultations between the Media and the CSOs should be organized to express their common social responsibility on particular issues. CSOs and RWAs should maintain updated contact details of local journalists and regularly inform them about their activities.
Journalists should be invited to attend the General Body and Executive Committee meetings and other events to mix with members. They should be offered no incentives, as it is their professional duty. If local reporters are unresponsive, CSOs should send press reports directly to newspaper bureau chiefs. Some newspapers publish a ‘Today’s Engagements’ column which can be used effectively. CSOs should hold press meets on issues of their concern at press clubs, which are not very costly. Both entities should maintain contacts with the relevant UN Bodies and international non-governmental organizations which encourage this cooperation. CSOs, RWAs and senior citizens' associations should establish reading rooms and libraries, including e-libraries in their premises and subscribe only to those newspapers that cover mostly social, economic and cultural news. Such news would inspire other communities to emulate and promote the exchange and multiplication of experiences.
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