Bhonpuram khabari, There has been a surge in forming clubs and unions of so-called journalists in Uttarakhand. Recently, executive bodies of a few such clubs have been formed, which I prefer to call “gangs.” These clubs have predetermined positions for individuals, leaving little room for genuine interest or merit among journalists. Unfortunately, many office bearers exploit their positions for personal gain or to serve their respective organizations. Their respective institutions also allow these individuals to become office bearers, knowing that they can leverage their positions for their own advantage. Whether it’s securing mining leases, facilitating the opening of universities, or arranging accommodations for high-ranking officials in government guest houses, these clubs and journalist organizations exist primarily for such backdoor dealings.
Regrettably, the government encourages this culture of sycophancy and brokers within the media industry. They prefer journalists who excel in networking and playing the intermediary role, rather than those who prioritize conveying the truth to the public. This kind of behaviour is highly esteemed in government circles, except for a few exceptions.
Allow me to illustrate an incident from 2011 that exemplifies this issue. When the owner of a news channel came to visit Corbett Park, prior to this one of his journalists spent five hours relentlessly pleading with CM Khanduri to make a single phone call to park authorities. This journalist became the President of the Press Club. Such instances highlight the state of journalism today. In another incident, one such reporter managed to get the controversial 180 different mining lease from Harish Rawat government to his group editor’s relative and he also rose to the editor post in that group.
During the challenging times of the pandemic, several journalists and photographers made sacrifices for their mainstream newspapers and news channels. Sadly, they received little support or aid from the organizations they worked for. Countless journalists lost their jobs during this period, especially those who dared to criticize the government. Journalist associations or clubs failed to offer assistance to those affected.
Even worse, leading newspapers are pressuring their reporters to achieve exorbitant advertisement targets during the New Year. Journalists face humiliation and threats from unqualified managers. Their precarious situation allows anyone to exploit and mistreat them. Many competent journalists lost their jobs merely because they expressed dissenting opinions and became a nuisance to those in power.
The role of clubs and organizations should be to provide a safe and supportive environment for their members. However, they seem to be more focused on conducting cricket competitions and disregarding the risks posed by the pandemic back then. Journalism should not contribute to the spread of the virus but rather aim to shed light on its impact.
We must remember that journalism itself is not a flawed profession. It is the corporate influence that has tarnished its image. While 90 percent of journalists work with honesty and integrity, the remaining ten percent have caused significant harm. However, it is still possible to earn a respectable living through honest journalism. My advice to new journalists is to prioritize their individual growth and integrity over joining groups or cliques. Hard work and self-belief will undoubtedly lead them to success.
Paid journalism in India has given rise to a culture of favouritism and corruption. Journalist associations and clubs never prioritize the welfare of their members, support independent journalism, and strive for ethical practices within the industry. In short, these are gangs working for their own interests and of the office bearers in them.
