During an event last week, a seasoned businessman suggested that all the journalists should watch the recent Bollywood blockbuster ‘Sanju’, a biopic on Sanjay Dutt, just because the movie has heavily come on the journalists. He went on further proposing to organise and sponsor a special show for the journalists of ‘Online news portals and Weekly newspapers’. Since the businessman is good terms with many journalists, he made the statement just in zest, but it stirred me from deep inside.
Again this week, a businessman at ‘24th Cargo Day’ celebration, asked some journalists whether they had watched ‘Sanju’. As most of the journalists gestured ‘No’, he immediately advised them to watch.
Suggesting someone to watch a certain movie is normal but this case is different. Not to get surprised, you will find every second ‘Sanju watcher’ in the town suggesting that journalists should watch the movie just because the media persons are portrayed negatively in the movie and have been blamed for ruining Sanjay’s life.
As the movie has portrayed the negative side of the journalism – paparazzi, privacy busters and hounds following trivia, and downplayed other beautiful aspects such as muckraking, socially responsible and public interest follower, the newsmakers who were stung by the truth-seeking journalists have found their satisfaction in the abuse. Corrupt government officials and businessmen involved in shady business practices were prompt to suggest journalists to watch the movie.
However, we must be aware of the other side of the coin as well. All the government officers are not corrupt; neither all the businessmen are involved in unethical business activities. The society has a clear reflection in the part of journalists as well. There are instances when journalists have blackmailed businessmen and involved in extortions.
Some businessmen shy away from meeting a journalist and deny commenting even on a public topic fearing that they would come the next day with the published piece of opinion or web link, and ask for money for giving coverage.
A couple of years ago, a tourism entrepreneur had said that a journalist from a broadsheet daily asked him about Rs. 10,000 for publishing his interview. Recently, a journalist had walked out with a rice cooker from a utensil shop in Kathmandu with a promise that he wouldn’t publish the information of the outlet that it was not registered with the government.
Journalism is the business with constitutional guarantee of ‘freedom’ just because it has a tremendous responsibility towards society and people. It has the responsibility to give voice to the voiceless and ignite hope in people through the ‘language of hope’. And, media should give voice to many economic and business issues in order to create business-friendly environment.
Flourishing business means more opportunities for employment and livelihood which will ultimately pave way towards economic prosperity and development. As the country is on the springboard of development, the media should play the role of a non-partisan watchdog.
The media must keep it clean by adhering to the journalistic code of conduct and following the ‘self-righteousness’ process. It must not scare any other than the wrongdoers.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 August 2018.
Again this week, a businessman at ‘24th Cargo Day’ celebration, asked some journalists whether they had watched ‘Sanju’. As most of the journalists gestured ‘No’, he immediately advised them to watch.
Suggesting someone to watch a certain movie is normal but this case is different. Not to get surprised, you will find every second ‘Sanju watcher’ in the town suggesting that journalists should watch the movie just because the media persons are portrayed negatively in the movie and have been blamed for ruining Sanjay’s life.
As the movie has portrayed the negative side of the journalism – paparazzi, privacy busters and hounds following trivia, and downplayed other beautiful aspects such as muckraking, socially responsible and public interest follower, the newsmakers who were stung by the truth-seeking journalists have found their satisfaction in the abuse. Corrupt government officials and businessmen involved in shady business practices were prompt to suggest journalists to watch the movie.
However, we must be aware of the other side of the coin as well. All the government officers are not corrupt; neither all the businessmen are involved in unethical business activities. The society has a clear reflection in the part of journalists as well. There are instances when journalists have blackmailed businessmen and involved in extortions.
Some businessmen shy away from meeting a journalist and deny commenting even on a public topic fearing that they would come the next day with the published piece of opinion or web link, and ask for money for giving coverage.
A couple of years ago, a tourism entrepreneur had said that a journalist from a broadsheet daily asked him about Rs. 10,000 for publishing his interview. Recently, a journalist had walked out with a rice cooker from a utensil shop in Kathmandu with a promise that he wouldn’t publish the information of the outlet that it was not registered with the government.
Journalism is the business with constitutional guarantee of ‘freedom’ just because it has a tremendous responsibility towards society and people. It has the responsibility to give voice to the voiceless and ignite hope in people through the ‘language of hope’. And, media should give voice to many economic and business issues in order to create business-friendly environment.
Flourishing business means more opportunities for employment and livelihood which will ultimately pave way towards economic prosperity and development. As the country is on the springboard of development, the media should play the role of a non-partisan watchdog.
The media must keep it clean by adhering to the journalistic code of conduct and following the ‘self-righteousness’ process. It must not scare any other than the wrongdoers.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 August 2018.
No comments:
Post a Comment