JOURNALISM DYING BEHIND THE VELVET CURTAIN OF MANGEMENT

JOURNALISM DYING BEHIND THE VELVET CURTAIN OF MANGEMENT

21-JUNE-ENG 25

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------Today’s journalism is going through a deep crisis, where writers are marginalized and PR management dominates. Journalists, who were once the voice of truth, are now fighting for their existence while riding broken bikes, while the lives of managers are immersed in luxury. Media organizations are now ignoring true news for business gains. This article highlights the same irony—where journalism is not the fourth pillar of democracy, but is becoming a scripted spectacle. Is there only image management left in place of truth?

The way commercialism, branded content and PR management have increased in today’s media and journalism environment, it is becoming a big crisis for journalism. Earlier, where journalism was considered the watchdog of society, today it has turned into the language of business, profit and self-interest. Especially PR agencies and media management have gripped journalists in their fist in such a way that their real work—bringing out the truth—is now completely out of reach.

It is true that the life of journalists was never easy, but in today's times, their situation has become more difficult than ever. While PR management companies charge lakhs of rupees to create facilities and glamorous images for their clients, on the other hand, the same journalists who actually take the responsibility of bringing out the truth have to deal with the harsh reality of the world on their broken bikes. This is today's media scenario.

The role of media in our society today has become a business rather than the foundation of journalism. It is also true that media has never been completely independent, but today it has completely fallen prey to advertising, branded content and political pressure. In the last few years, PR management has changed the course of media to such an extent that now real issues are becoming less in journalism and there are more conspiracies, scripted news and political agendas.

Nowadays most media channels and newspapers run news with the help of PR agencies, in which their main objective is only and only commercial benefits. Should we ever think whether the news we are watching is true or has it been prepared for someone's benefit? This question poses a serious threat to the real purpose of journalism today. Journalism, which was once a platform for the public, has now become a product that can be bought and sold.

This situation is even more painful for a journalist who walks on the path of truth. A journalist who raises his voice in the interest of the public without any selfishness has to work in the same conditions today as he used to work in the old times—broken bike, low salary and government pressure. Even many journalists have to struggle for the security of their jobs.

There was a time when journalism was considered the fourth pillar of society, but in today's time this pillar has been shaken. The journalist is fulfilling his responsibility sitting on his broken bike, while the same media manager, whose job is only advertising and PR management, is living a luxurious life. Travelling in luxury cars, sitting in luxurious offices and consuming expensive food items – all this has become a common thing for them. And the saddest aspect of this is that all this is happening with the money of the same society whose truth the journalists have tried to expose.

Another problem that is seen in today's journalism scenario is commercial pressure. Media houses and channels now want more and more advertisements and branded content. For this, news is edited and prepared so that it creates excitement in the hearts of the people and gets more and more views and advertisements.

Now journalism has been replaced by spicy news, popular sensations and sensational reports. Have you ever felt in any channel or newspaper whether the news you are reading or watching is true? Has it been prepared under any agenda? Is this the real form of journalism? If not, then we need to understand how much journalism has strayed from its real duty today.

It is the responsibility of all of us to protect the important place of journalism in our democracy. Just as other institutions are accountable for their actions, journalism too cannot shy away from its responsibility. The purpose of journalism was never to earn money, but to become the voice of the people. It was the same voice that exposed the misuse of power, discrimination, corruption and inequality prevalent in the society.

When the press is not allowed to exercise its freedom, the question arises whether our democratic institutions are safe? If the media also works under commercial pressure, then how can we reach the truths that are important for our society? Today, the journalist who is facing these questions by riding his broken bike does not expect any good salary or respect, he just hopes that he can make his voice heard.

In the context of today's journalism, a big question arises—will we ever be able to restore the freedom of the media? Will the day ever come when journalists will again talk about the real issues of the society and it will get a place in the media? What is PR Agent?

Will the pressure of politicians reduce on the media and will journalists again use their pen properly?

This question is not only from media houses or journalists, but also from the society. Society has to understand that true journalism is the real watchdog of democracy. We need an environment where journalists can play their role, without any commercial or political pressure. If we want journalism to play its true role again, then we have to make it self-reliant and honest again.

Finally, until we take steps in this direction, journalists will struggle sitting on their broken bikes and PR managers will continue to live a luxurious life. It is our responsibility to save the truth of journalism, so that the coming generations can understand it in the right form.

Press Freedom Day has now become a formality. Journalism has now been replaced by social media influencers, where reels have replaced truth, and views have replaced analysis. The fourth pillar of democracy is now lost in brand deals and trending tags. Asking questions is now a danger, and remaining silent is ‘safe content’. In the times to come, we may have to trend #ThrowbackToJournalism. When the press used to speak, and the power used to tremble.

Every year on 3rd May, when ‘Press Freedom Day’ comes, a deep silence raises the question whether journalism is still really free? Is this day still a symbol of the fearlessness, responsibility and truth that was once called journalism? Or has this day also become just a ceremonial formality—like the anniversary of a dead tradition?

The journalism that once had the courage to confront the power, today is seen sitting in the lap of the power. The pen is no longer sharp, it has started shining in the light of advertisements and sponsorships. The editorial policy is no longer value-based, it has become market-based. On news channels, there is shouting instead of news, noise instead of debate, and scripts instead of truth.

This is the period when a new group was born—social media influencers. These are the people who have no formal education in journalism, but have the art of coming in front of the camera. They gave importance to filter instead of truth, and reel instead of research. For them every issue is a 'content idea'- whether it is a farmer's suicide or the atrocities committed on a girl.

Today's influencers have come into the role that journalists used to play. The only difference is that the journalist used to look for the truth behind a news, while the influencer only looks for views and engagement. The journalist can be proven wrong, but he is accountable; the influencer only counts the number of views- whether his point has any basis or not.

If the journalist's report does not reach the public, then he gets the reward of his honesty in the form of unemployment. On the other hand, if the influencer makes an emotional reel, he gets brand deals and followers. If a journalist questions the government, he is called a traitor, but if the influencer says the same thing laughingly, then he is called 'bold'.

In fact, today we are in a time where the public has also given up the habit of listening to the truth. People don't want facts, they want emotions. They don't want analysis, they want entertainment. Asking questions now creates depression, and jokes give relief. This is the reason why the silence of the press does not bother us, but the noise of reels gives us relief. Imagine, in the coming times, on May 3, we will not celebrate 'Press Freedom Day', but 'Influencer Day'. Children will be asked in schools - "Son, what will you become when you grow up?" And the answer will be - "I will make videos and change the country." Trending reels will be invited on platforms, who will tell how a reel on democracy is made. And the press? It will be sitting in a corner - like forgotten memories. This is a ridiculous reality, but equally true. Because the soul of democracy lies in its independent press. And if that soul is now lost in counting followers on Instagram, then the preamble of the Constitution will also start looking like a profile bio. Poets, writers, thinkers and journalists must come together to understand this decline. Democracy does not run only on elections, it runs on the expression of ideas and the search for truth. We must revive the journalism that questions, tells the truth, and does not bow down to power. Otherwise the day is not far when we will start a trend on social media and the most viral reel of that day will be: “When journalism was alive…”