Independent media: Will the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah fulfill his promise of ensuring press freedom in J&K? Bureaucrats targeting media is a big concern; In the national interest, media requires transparency

Independent media: Will the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah fulfill his promise of ensuring press freedom in J&K? Bureaucrats targeting media is a big concern; In the national interest, media requires transparency

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH/JAMMU: After taking oath as Chief Minister of J&K UT, Omar Abdullah, who is blessed with the gift of the gab, in his first public address, has ensured full media freedom in J&K, and this gesture is seen as a positive sign for all those journalism professionals who are working in the fourth estate. Although, during his previous stint as Chief Minister from 2009 to 2014, Omar had some tough moments with some media platforms, as a result, some unpleasant statements against the media also came from the then NC-Congress coalition government.

But now the time has changed, and Omar Abdullah seems to have realized the importance of professional media in this technology-driven age of artificial intelligence. In his address, Omar Abdullah ensured that no journalist will be taken to task for writing against his government; instead, every effort will be made to protect the institution of journalism. The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is known for calling a spade a spade, has a massive fan following in J&K and at the national level because of his plain speaking on various issues. Omar’s positive gesture towards the media fraternity has given a ray of hope among these media persons and platforms that have done a lot in highlighting all the developmental and security-related issues of local and national importance. It is important to mention here that when there was no elected government in J&K, some media platforms suffered a lot due to the dictatorial attitude of some big-headed bureaucrats despite cooperative gestures towards the media fraternity from the LG Manoj Sinha’s administration. Those newspapers that tried to publish truth in the national interest, including highlighting loopholes of various departments, had to face their toughest times as they were harassed and targeted in a completely unprofessional manner by some bureaucrats holding important positions, including facing a reduction in advertisements to a very low level. Even “POONCH TODAY,” which is the only bold, nationalist, total professional, and credible voice from Poonch and Rajouri districts, was targeted time and again for writing the truth by facing the dictatorial attitudes of some bureaucrats and police officers in various ways. A few bureaucrats who were later shifted from Poonch to important positions in the J&K administration had targeted the journalism of “POONCH TODAY” openly, and it’s sad that such bureaucrats, who love to attack the media fraternity because of their hollow arrogance, got important postings. Such officers, who used to indulge in such undemocratic practices against the fourth estate, cannot be a good asset to any government. Crossing all the limits, some officers even tried to use the judiciary to put curbs on the “POONCH TODAY” journalism, but despite facing directly or indirectly pressures on its truthful journalism from those arrogant minds,  “POONCH TODAY” never surrendered before their dictatorial attitude. Like “POONCH TODAY,” many J&K-based newspapers that are known for their bold journalism in the national interest also met the same fate, unfortunately. But the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is the man of the moment presently for the press fraternity of J&K, as he has promised full freedom to the journalist community, and his gesture needs to be appreciated by all those who are working in the elite field of journalism (print and electronic media). Omar has probably become the first Chief Minister in the country who has openly ensured full support to the press fraternity of J&K. But there is another side of the story as well, which needs the much-deserved attention of both the Union government and the J&K UT government in the interest of strengthening the institution of journalism. Due to the unprofessional growth of social media journalism, the credibility of journalism has come down to a very low level as the said field lacks professional journalists. It’s important to mention here that for every important profession or subject, there is a diploma, bachelor degree, master degree, or doctorate. A person with expertise in one field cannot become an expert in other fields. But these days, some people from other professions without having a sound journalism qualification have become traditional media and social media reporters and have lowered the dignity of this journalism profession with their jack of all, master of none outlook in addition to their blackmailing practices. A person with a bachelor’s, master’s degree, or doctorate in one subject cannot become an expert in another subject. But to become a media or social media reporter, it’s shocking that one doesn’t need any professional journalism qualifications. Non-professionals are barefacedly projecting themselves as journalists without knowing anything about journalism. A senior professional journalist of Jammu, pleading anonymity, said, “A physics teacher cannot teach any other subject. A physician cannot become a surgeon. A civil engineer cannot become a computer engineer, likewise applied to other fields, but it’s unfortunate that everybody has become a journalist without any professional journalism qualification.” It’s important to mention here that for print and electronic media, there is a big accountability concern, and there is also a lengthy procedure for licensing and related issues, but for social media journalism, there is no government rule, no legal check, and no accountability. As a result, a number of fake media and social media platforms being run by non-professionals have become a big threat to the country’s internal security. Such people unfortunately have access to vital government and security installations on the name of media persons, and it’s an alarming trend that should not be ignored by any means by the government. Because of the presence of unprofessional people, the credibility of social media has come down dramatically. The other day, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, during the launch of a book, also mentioned the same indirectly about social media. The elite field of journalism requires reform in the interest of development, peace, and internal security. If there are set qualifications for every profession, why not for the field of journalism? Only professionals can do their jobs ethically, not non-professionals. It’s high time for the Prime Minister, Home Minister, LG J&K, and Chief Minister J&K to check this menace of fake media men by clearing this elite field of journalism from non-professionals. Media requires transparency, and only professionals can do justice to their jobs in the interest of the nation. Will the Union government and J&K UT government address this issue of extreme importance? Only time will tell, but at the same time, the response of CM Omar Abdullah towards the press fraternity is highly appreciable, and it’s really a big development for the press in J&K. It has shown a ray of hope for professionals in the fourth estate, and the professional journalists are eager to see the implementation of Omar Abdullah’s commitment on the ground as far as ethical media freedom is concerned because no journalist platform is expected to meet the same fate that some of the media platforms faced due to the unprofessional attitude of some arrogant bureaucrats when there was no elected government in J&K?