- Today, India has about 400 news channels in 15 languages, 82 thousands plus newspapers, 1500 state-owned, privately-owned and community radio stations. The press has immeasurable power and responsibilities It should get respect and cooperation.
- . But experts believe that journalist has drifted from its motive with time, and corporates own almost all media houses. Recently, Adani Group has acquired 29.18% in NDTV and plans to acquire a further 26%. Reliance acquired shares in more than 50% of the country’s media houses.
- Due to consumerism’s impact, the value of journalism is on the decline; it became a mission, then became a profession, and today it is a sensation .
Paid News :
- The indian Chapter of the Ethical Journalism Network report says that indian journalism become paid news since globalisation.
Opaque private treaties :
- Nexus between media organisations and big corporates are common, this strategy influences public opinion and generates consumers for the corporate. Rather, they are prepared for the corporates only as a consumer, so that those companies can benefit.
- The Indian Express had claimed in a report that Mehul Chuksi’s company Gitanjali Group, who scammed Punjab National Bank, had allocated equity to Bennet, Coleman and Company Limited (BCCL) in exchange for Ads.
Blatant blackmail :
- It is embarrassing that media has even started blackmailing for money Some media houses have also been involved in blackmailing which raises serious questions about their authenticity.
- In 2012, senior editors of ZEE News and ZEE Business were arrested for blackmailing. According to reports, these people were accused of demanding Rs100 crores from Naveen Jindal’s company Jindal Power and Steel Ltd.
Widening Legal Regulatory Gap :
- Today, other monitoring bodies, including the Press Council and the Editors Guild of India, are not coming forward to save journalism. Instead of dealing with paid news and other unethical practices, Press Council of India seems to drag its feet in such matters.
- In April 2003, a photojournalist gave a tip to the council about how advertisements are being published in the form of news. But instead of investigating the matter, the Council told the media organisations that their credibility is getting affected by this. So they have to differentiate between advertising and news.This report was not even published, as it could have dented the image of the media houses.
Fake News :
- In 2008, it was revealed in a sting operation that many media organisations are ready to alter the content in exchange for money. The sting operation by CobraPost, uncovered the ugly truth about big media houses being involved in content distortion for money
Cross Media Holding :
- Cross Media Holding I e. holding on to different media sources like television, newspaper ,radio and online by a single enterprises, is a severe threat to democracy. Due to this, there will be no one left to challenge that one institution and in the end , we will have to stick to the truth that organization wants.
Political Pressure :
- Central Government try to control the freedom of media. In 1975 Emergency, we saw reporters could not even report against the steps taken by the ruling government.
- These journalists who do not compromise with their ethics have to face the risk of losing their work. Since 2008, more than 10 thousand journalists have lost their jobs. Many capable journalists are out of job.
Needs and Effect –
- Journalism is called the forth pillar of democracy. It is the only power that can bring positive change in the society. Media is the carrier of change and consciousness. It acts a communication bridge between the government and the people.
- It cannot be denies that people’s trust in the press continues. Some newspapers and Rajyasabha TV still guide the public and students in the right direction.
In conclusion, today many questions are being raised about journalism. It is not just about the credibility of journalism but about the existence of democracy. Often commercial interests wind up in the spirit of independent journalism, thereby compromising democracy. What is needed today is an independent, neutral, healthy and reliable mechanism of monitoring the internal works and autonomy of the media.
