It's media barons who don't qualify

Dear Justice Katju,

I am glad you have raised the question of quality of journalists and suggested fixing of minimum qualification for those who want to enter this noble profession. There is no doubt that today’s journalism has fallen way below our levels of expectation. Especially when we watch 24x7 news channels, we find them doing everything but serious journalism. In fact, they are breaking all the rules and forget to follow basic norms and ethics of journalism. They are providing entertainment by sensational and non-news content and trying to become good marketable products to earn more and more profit.

Having said that, I must also point out that you are not looking at the complete picture and overreacting on a few things and perhaps overlooking certain basic reasons for this deterioration. Missing out on these would not help you achieve the ends that you are perhaps looking for... Here are some points you have overlooked:

1. There is already a basic criterion for a new entrant and that is he or she should be a graduate. Having a degree or diploma from good journalism institute becomes an added advantage for the candidates. But since the quality of education in all fields has gone down, journalism is a casualty too.

2. The media has grown exponentially in the last two decades. It generated huge requirements of manpower but that was in short supply. Therefore, media organisations used what was readily available. Certainly it had an impact on journalism. Mushrooming journalism institutes have made the situation worse, as their primary motive is incremental and quick returns. Obviously, quality is of little concern.

3. Setting minimum qualifications for journalists will not serve any purpose. There is imminent need to improve the quality of education and training in journalism. I feel, Justice Katju, this is an uphill task.

4. You have to understand that there are many things which can be learnt by doing. News sense cannot be developed in schools and understanding the gravity of the issues also demands time. Therefore you have to give time for that.

5. Teaching and training journalists is one side of the picture. You must see the forces shaping the media. Market forces or corporate media has changed the character and role of the media. There is tabloidisation of media where sensationalism sells. Entertainment in the name of Bollywood and cricket swallow about 50 percent time and space of the media. Now where is the space for serious journalism?

6- The marketization of the media or commoditizationof the news has sidelined serious issues. Consequently, serious journalists also have been sidelined. If you remember, there was a time when news channels have stopped political coverage and all the senior reporters were forced to sit idle. There is no work for the reporters in the news channels who understand seriousness of subjects like culture, literature, science etc. One of my friends has just left a leading news channel. He was heading programming department there but got frustrated because he has to produce programs on filmy gossips, astrology etc. Earlier he was working for a production house and produced national and international level programs and documentaries. There are so many examples like this.

7. The institution of editor is either demolished or weakened. The news channels are looking for young faces, which mean they don’t feel that experienced journalists are required. That is why you rarely see anchors on Indian news channel above the age of 50 while in BBC and CNN journalists anchor shows till the age of 80.

8. While we talk about the quality of the journalists, we must also discuss the problems and challenges journalists are facing nowadays. First of all, working conditions are horrible: long hours with hardly any job security. Unions of journalists are very weak today. There have been instances of mass retrenchment in the last few years.. How can anybody work freely in such conditions? Moreover, managements are promoting those people who are ready to serve their interests without bothering about the basic norms of journalism. It is obvious then that these people are sitting on key positions in newsrooms. Actual journalists are getting marginalised.

9. Justice Katju, you must also see what kind of people are investing money in the media and what their intentions are. If their bona fides vis-a-vis journalism are questionable – their intent is the fringe benefits and not free and fair news – then you cannot control the deterioration we are witnessing.

10. Before issuing licences to broadcasters you should make arrangements to revoke the licence of those who are not following the basics of media business and bringing disgrace to the profession. If the managing director of a big media house says we are not into the business of news but into the business of advertising then why should his licence not be revoked and why shouldn’t all the facilities he is availing in the name of media be rescinded. After all, paid news or deal-making do not come under fair practices of media business.

10. Last but not the least, there are good sensible people in media as well. In fact 90 percent journalists are frustrated due to the present status of journalism and they would like to help you in making required changes. Before your crusade they have written hundreds of articles and organised countless seminars against the trends affecting the core of journalism. So don’t blame them, instead take them along so that we can together counter the situation effectively.

Mukesh Kumar has 27 years experience in journalism, including 20 years in TV. He has been writing a media column for Hindi literary magazine Hans for the last eight years.