Shangon Das Gupta
Water Journalism! When the words were first articulated, they appeared powerful even to those who said it. Just as there were sports journalists, why wasn¿t there a ¿water journalist¿ - especially since water is crucial for survival? No water, no life.
Yet research on the coverage of water related issues in language and English newspapers indicates that only 20% or so of the coverage is qualitative in nature. The rest is purely event-based coverage. Since much of news is dismal, a mood of doom and panic seems to prevail.
Is it possible to improve the quality of news coverage of water - from mere news reportage to a more comprehensive approach where water is projected as an essential element of life, and hence the need to make it a priority? Instead of grim and depressing stories, would it be possible to give hope and courage, and ideas on what to do?
It has been done before. Take the instance of the Pulse Polio campaign, where a creative media mix was used to bring about change. Along with the mainstream channels, below-the-line media like hoardings, posters, banners, t-shirts, bags, and even matchbox labels were used to reiterate the message - and ensure that every household across the country was reached.
As a result, polio is on the verge of being wiped out in the country.
Could such a change be brought about on an issue like water? Water is everybody¿s business. The time had come to start a mass movement on water literacy. At Charkha Feature Service, a project of Communication for Development and Learning, we called this ¿water journalism¿.
Water journalism is a new concept in advocacy, bringing in the media as a key partner in the debate on issues of water scarcity, distribution, equity and ownership.
The first step was to put together the stakeholders - subject experts, guides, advisors, activists and obviously, the journalists. Organising the different groups into a network was easy - as they were quick to see value in the concept and participate in the movement.
It was then time to take the idea to newspapers. One-on-one meetings were fixed with the editors of five leading regional language newspapers in Karnataka to introduce the concept. We didn¿t promise anything - except an investment of knowledge. No fellowships, no awards, no money, no computers - nothing except an offer of learning and an opportunity to specialize in an issue that was critical to survival.
The editors were quick to understand the concept and prompt to make a commitment. In February 2005, five mainstream journalists and one programme producer from All India Radio were nominated as ¿water journalists¿. While two were news reporters, three others were on the features desk of the newspaper.
Water journalism works at various levels. Journalists remain in the mainstream. In the course of their assignments, when they are to file a report on water, the scope of ¿water journalism¿ comes into play. The WJ interacts with resource persons to understand the news beyond the event and files a report which is inclusive and wide-ranging.
Citizen groups are encouraged to provide reader responses through ¿Letters to the Editor¿. Coverage on the issue is then compiled and made available to policy makers and groups to strengthen efforts at lobbying for a policy that is more just.
Based on an interaction with a resource person on rainwater harvesting, Girish Babu (senior reporter from Kannada Prabha) was able to carry three front-page articles in the paper on the need for a policy on rainwater harvesting. The story was taken up by B K Chandrashekhar (MLA and member of the opposition) in the Legislative Assembly. The Speaker demanded a response from the concerned Minister who, on review, made a commitment to speed up work on the Bill. The reporter followed the story through - this time in the inside pages.
With editorial sanction, WJs are able to push their stories into the pages. In two cases, (Vijay Karnataka and Udayavani) the editors have started a weekly column on water related issues.
At Charkha, we arrange field visits to various water projects and hold meetings with communities and key persons in the field. A fact file is compiled based on the issue of focus, readings are compiled, story ideas are provided with contacts, and most importantly, the resource persons are encouraged to discuss the story at length with the WJ. And finally, we monitor the media coverage. All coverage of water related issues is tracked and compiled and made available to whoever is interested. A digital photo-bank has been started, as well as an e-group and website on the concept.
For instance, in a two-day seminar on ¿water management¿ at Kozhikode (Kerala), the WJs were exposed to a range of traditional water management systems as well as a demonstration of the communities¿ ability to manage the resource at their own levels. ?Who needs big projects like interlinking of rivers?? they were heard to ask.
Water Journalism is a young concept, and certainly an ambitious one. Yet it is an idea whose time has come. Unless there is an effort to create social literacy on the issue of water and equitable distribution of water through policy change, ¿water wars¿ are inevitable. Engaging with the media is essential, but this needs to be done with respect for the profession.