JOURNALISM AND ETHICS (part three)

As writer Karen Sanders mentions in her book ‘Ethics & journalism’, Reflecting on Ethics and journalism is more about acquiring knowledge of a philosophical nature. It is of a fundamental nature and self-sufficient.18 That is to say, the answers come from within. Journalism and reporting as a career is time-consuming and most of the time professionals are expected to be spontaneous and think on their feet. It is exacting in nature and consequences affect not only the journalist but people as readers, forcing them to think about matters they’d otherwise not consider any of their business. As such, it is all the more important that a person from this industry is clear in his/her ideas of what they consider right and wrong. It saves the person, the organization a lot of time and energy. And aides the reporter, editor report on a situation with accuracy, objectivity, and clarity- considered essential in journalism.
After all, ones job as a reporter is to inform not infer.

JOURNALISM AND ETHICS (part two)

A close look at ones daily paper will give people a rough idea of how the newspapers tend, sometimes, to work around a story. This is not to say that newspapers plan a day’s paper with hidden agendas that the public is blissfully unaware of but that which affects them. One can also not discount the fact that at times, the journalist may have written an article with an honest intention but the article was treated at the desk or changed by the editor to suit the flavor of the broadsheet or tabloid. But it is necessary that people are aware.
One example appeared on the Aug 19, 2011 edition of the Times of India
'Mumbai cops junk stolen cars on Juhu beach'

The very article begins with a tone that should only be reserved for articles written in the editorial. The very beginning set the scene where the police is denoted as the bad guy. So much for letting the public decides. Throughout the article, people have been quoted stating their opinions on the matter while the police is barely given a say towards the end.
The article makes liberal use of labels for the police and the tone of the article points to how the police have been disappointing. A few examples are phrases like ‘custodians of beaches’, ‘law-enforcers’ and ‘custodian of law’ and words like the police ‘encroached’ upon the land has been used. Almost as if the police did so forcibly.

Most times the issue with newspapers is most people trust papers to print news that is the absolute truth of what happened. And sometimes, the reporters or editors betray this very trust by printing news that is either vague in nature, meaning there is a lack of any substantial evidence to back the story or it is made up at times with fictitious experts to give the sense that the fact is backed by people experts in that field. Not many in the public have the time or curiosity to question the authority of such experts. The above is merely an example of what one calls a fallacy, it doesn’t harm anyone but as people usually quote, ‘Every little drop, maketh the ocean.’

JOURNALISM AND ETHICS (part one)

When the Radia tapes first became public knowledge in 2008-2009, the county first took to discussing the idea of ethics in journalism with a serious urgency that lacked earlier. The west has been debating various aspects of journalism; the idea that the media is in cahoots with businesses leading to a host of issues that compromise the accuracy of the news presented in the media- there are recorded instances where headlines have been made up or slanted to forward the interests of the business groups or pieces of news that go against the policy of the parent company is held back etc.
The situation however, still remains dismal- newspapers are closing down regularly due to loss of loyal readership; most others are losing a valuable chunk of their income in terms of advertisements to other forms of media, the television and social media.
In India, the story is fairly different. While there are instances like the Mid Day offices shutting down in Delhi and Banglore Here, the readership for vernacular newspapers are on an increase, despite the onslaught of social networking sites like Facebook, twitter, the rising phenomenon of citizen journalism, the internet and, lest I forget, the television. However, that does not mean Indians are not haunted by dilemma of ethical journalism.

In India though, the issues are slightly different. Most widely discussed being the idea of Paid News, whether sting operations are a good idea when pursuing a story and the idea that journalists maybe accepting ‘gifts’ to write flattering stories about issues ad people. In fact, there are even cases where entire newspapers are said to be pro- political parties thereby undermining the very basic policy of objective reporting.
While the idea of TRP crazy news channels; plainly the consequence of them turning 24X7; is something the public is shamefully aware of the articles based on lack of ethics among the staff from the print media are either vague or generic. What is unclear is if this is because the newspaper is still a trustworthy source for one’s news or if it will be some time before someone uncovers the deception.
In any case, everyone will agree it is high time ethics was a part of the discussion. But what does one understand by ethics. In various professions there are times when you are faced with situations that test your loyalty as a professional and test your calibre as a human being. It is how we deal with the situation, while keeping certain values in mind that matters.

RECYCLING WITH A DIFFERENCE

Recycling is a term most of us are familiar with. Over the past few years, we’ve made attempts to save the environment in every little way possible. Different cans for paper and plastic, decomposition…these are a part of our everyday. But rarely do people realize we’ve unwittingly been a part of the recycle phenomenon for the past few decades, if not more.
Consumerism is the new-age monster, the western world is desperately trying to contain, but Indians came up with a rather fool-proof solution, years ago. Some if not all will be familiar with the cries of ‘Bartanwali’ on the narrow streets every other afternoon or so. Not so much an everyday sight now- most housewives, if no one else, would be aware of the Guajarati sari/ ghagra choli clad ladies or men in traditional garbs roaming around with a basket of brand new vessels that they’d trade with you for old clothes.
Over the years though, they’ve disappeared off the streets, you don’t spot them often enough on the city streets. And for most out of sight is out of mind. In fact, people are rarely home these days, what with their busy schedules and everything and with more women opting to work, there are lesser housewives to do business with. Or so… one would imagine, is the case. But if you were to have a conversation with Meena Gopal (30), you’d know that is not necessarily the case.
The lady, a mother of two, has been in the business the past 11 years, ever since she was married. The bartanwallahs, she insists is not a community but in fact, a family business. Her husband, works out of Surat while her brother-in-law similarly trades in plastic ware in Kolhapur.
Her vessels glisten and shine in her plastic tub. I hesitantly offer Meena a pair of my old jeans and a couple of shorts. One look at them, and she refuses outright, but graciously agrees to continue with the interview. Rather picky about the clothes she accepts, she parts with her vessels carefully. ‘Market mein bikna chahiye.’(The clothes need to sell in the market). The concept might seem like a simple one, but only the most aggressive manage to snag themselves the larger looking stainless steel containers that invitingly sit in the basket. Most others end up with measly spoons and tiny bowls.
She begins her usual business rounds at a leisurely 12 or 1 p.m. and continues on until 5p.m. With no particular target to achieve, her life, she claims is a peaceful one. The clothes she collects round the week are sent off to Surat to be mended and resold on the streets and weekly markets. The vessels are bought from a wholesale dealer.
What about her kids? Would she let them continue in the business? Obviously a question she has given great thought to in the past, pat comes the reply, ‘Bacche iskool mein achha karein toh thik varna, hamare saath kam pein laga denge.’ (If the kids do well in school fine, or else they’ll be made to work with us.)
Ask her about the competition and she scoffs. ‘What competition’ she asks. She does know there is another Bartanwali who does her rounds in the opposite area but claims there is no competition as such. What about mutual marking of areas one can conduct business in…and she claims ignorance. She could conduct her rounds wherever she wishes to and no one could question her.
Inquire about the dwindling nature of this barter system and she downright refuses. ‘We aren’t going out of business anytime soon,’ she tells me in fluent Hindi before placing her basket on a carefully placed cloth holder, shyly refusing to be photographed, and walks off voicing cries of ‘bartanwali…bartanwali.’

DYING INSTINCTS?

Advertisements are meant to sell products and they could be humorous, witty, serious...Hell, it could be a tiny feature in itself. But sometimes they can be downright ridiculous. Now the ideal, mature thing would be to not read too much into them but then again...In my case I am riled up about a very specific ad. The advertisement was meant to introduce a watermelon flavoured gum. So, the scene is set such- there is a nakabandi, and the traffic police is looking for helmetless bike riders. Our protagonist, this smart, young fellow rides up and realizes he cannot afford to get caught. Sooo...he pops the flavoured gum and voila! He spots a young kid eating a melon(melon flavoured gum, kid eating gum...see the connection?), fashions a helmet out of the watermelon skin and drives through the nakabandi with the traffic police gawking at him. Smart, right? I beg to differ. What the advertisement does not show and people won’t tell you is that if that young man were to be in an accident, there is a strong chance his head will be squashed....like a melon.
Then again, I am sure the makers did not mean to, but when you create advertisements like these, I get the distinct message that government campaigns for safety are an absolute waste of time. Hell, the safety industry is a sham. Ride without helmets, drink and drive....everyone is destined to die eventually. Alright, I probably got carried along.
My point though is that our sense of survival is sort of dulling. Not the smartest observation but gives me something to think about. Every other day we hear about people losing their lives while they try to travel on train rooftops. Did they miss the safety posters glaring down at you on stations, or nor hear the irritatingly repetitive announcements pleading with you not to ride on rooftops cause it is dangerous, that is played before every train journey begins and then again between stations, or on platforms? What could possibly be more precious than your life?
But, let us give these disillusioned supermen the benefit of doubt. But how does it make sense travel so when the trains are not splitting at the seams from carrying almost thrice the number of passengers than was intended. I know we all feel like the superstars in our lives but do we really believe we can defy death by simply being our awesome selves?

Or is it that our sense for survival, our instincts is dulling because we have begun leading comparatively comfortable lives. What will it take to shake us out of our apathy?

TOLERANCE (part two): TIME WE GOT OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT....

On the other hand, consider these situations that have triggered protests, riots, violence…recently a movie was banned by a particular state government because it was said to have tackled the topic of reservations for the minority sections of the society. Most however, on being asked claimed not too have even seen the movie.

In another incident, an over-zealous youth wing leader for a political party set books by a particular author on fire and had it taken out of the official university syllabus because it apparently contained paragraphs that hurt the sentiments of the community.
The censor board insists films be altered or refuse to let it release because it contains certain scenes that might harm people’s senses while serials that openly seem to popularize issues like child marriage and female foeticide by glamorizing it. If one paid close attention to the above illustrations one would realize that somewhere down the line our priority, as responsible citizens, is getting skewered. We Indians are said to be extremely emotionally sensitive beings but does it pay to let the heart rule over the head. In fact, even if we look at history dating back to the British rule you’d see the proof.

For over 150 years, the Britishers flogged, publically humiliated us. We even tolerated notices such as ‘dogs and Indians not allowed.’ But when it was discovered that the Britishers were using cow and pig fat to make cartridges, our religious sentiments were hurt and a revolution took birth in the form of the mutiny of 1857. Maybe we need to recalculate what matters to us when human life is considered cheaper to religious and social sentiments.

TOLERANCE (part one): TIME WE GOT OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT....

The monsoon season might seem like respite for those tired of the relentless summer heat. But considering the state of roads as they get from bad to worse, everyone is looking forward to the season coming to an end. In fact, the situation gets ridiculous as the monsoon months draw closer. Especially closer to home, in my area the same drama plays out each year with sickening consistency. About five months before the onslaught of the rains, the corporation begins work on the roads. The pace is satisfying in the beginning but with each passing week the project seems to get slower. Somewhere about three months down the line, another contractor from a different department (Gas, Water, electricity, Sewer…take your pick) comes in and digs up the road, undoing all the work done until then and then some more. By the times the rains have begun, the excuse for leaving the road work undone is that one cannot work in the rains. And thus, eventually bad roads, deep potholes, road accidents and loss of lives become common news in the papers. What do we do about it, though? Complain to our neighbors and friends and then go back to work the next morning, using the same ruined potholed paths. A certain newspaper is known to have begun a campaign though; listing the number of potholes on each street, listing contractors who have not been doing their jobs well, making the mayor of the city accessible to the public. But that was almost a week ago. Other events have taken up the headline space since. The people paying their taxes aren’t getting what they deserve; the corporation is getting less accountable with each passing day. I believe this is injustice.
In another situation, the elderly are expected to show up to the government or post office personally in order to prove deserving of their pensions. As if one hasn’t had enough of ridiculous, unnecessary bureaucratic policy, I know of a particular elderly woman who hasn’t received her pension in the last three months because the system is being upgraded. It is a good thing that the lady has a son whom she can rely on financially but what about those individuals without families to support them in such situations? And yet, nobody has managed to do much about it.
Or what about the victims of the bomb blast attacks. While some perished in the attacks, others lost a limb or were rendered useless due to wounds or trauma. And all the government could do was announcing a compensation of 5 lakhs for the families of the dead and a few thousands for those who were hurt. But do these meager sums last the people any longer than a few months? Does the sum suffice those who’ve lost the only earning member of the family? Doesn’t this sound like injustice? But what do we do about it?