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News and Media
In today’s world, the Right to Information is the touchstone of the civilization. No thoughtful person can ever doubt that an
informed public is essential to a sound policy in the running of a welfare state. Thus, the world of media – information,
public relations and communications – has gone down in human history as a matter of pride ever since its very
beginning.
Journalism is not only a profession that involves media communication, its definition and scope of
activity undoubtedly goes further beyond it. Journalism, in fact, is an ideal social and national service, and punters say
it’s also much deservedly called the ‘noble of isms’. Its principal work involves dissemination of information – about what
goes in the society, with of course the focal theme of truth.
Thus journalism connotes the communication of
information regarding the events of a day through written words, sounds and visuals and a journalist is a person who writes
for a newspaper, a magazine or a television news channel.
The journalism has emerged as an exciting and interesting profession allowing the journalist to be close to events like war,
political developments, major diplomatic events, sporting events, and lifestyle of celebrities like film stars.
History of Journalism
Its history is linked to the discovery and developments of a printing press. Chinese has the credit of doing it first and the
knowledge of art of printing spread to the west and other parts of the world from China. The Chinese Court Gazette is said to
be oldest newspaper published at Peiping.
In Europe, the first morning newspaper took shape in the 16th century with
trading houses first publishing news books and then news letters. In 1609, two news sheets, ‘Avisa’ from Germany and
‘Relations’ from Strasbourg started coming out regularly. By 1618, weekly periodicals (magazines/newspapers) started coming
from in English, French, Dutch and German languages. In Indian context, the first printing works came only in the form of
religious books by 1550 in Portuguese, Tamil and Malayalam. The first newspaper later came out from Calcutta named ‘Bengal
Gazette’ by J A Hichey consisting of two sheets only
Role of a Journalist
Journalists or those who work in the profession are not merely watchdogs as they are commonly described. Aptly the press is
also called the ‘Fourth Estate’ in today’s democracy. The media persons are therefore, the pathfinders to the common man of
the contemporary setting – path-finding to unity, harmonious existence and towards ensuring the liberation of mind.
Therefore, to talk about the role of a newspaper or a journalist in ensuring communal harmony; it can be safely remarked that
this profession has a much significant role to rekindle in man the spirit of love, care and share. It tells people the tales
of love and care between one and another; and how despite the differences of caste and creed how the common people share both
moments of happiness and agonies among each other. Therefore, a piece of journalistic work has to be measured by a yardstick
much different from that usually applied in normal economic accounting.
Informing People
On the face value, journalism, that is news and media, means informing – that is bringing the news about an happening to the
people’s doorsteps. The significance of the role of the profession is that it can a keep a lasting and permanent print of
what is not only good or what is bad – but it can inform about an incident and how it can be avoided for a common good of the
mankind. Thus, while advocating for the cause of unity and harmonious existence, the news and media seek to tell people to
ado away with dogmatism and other parochialism.
Not just a job
For the journalists, on the other hand, their profession is not only a source of livelihood. It’s miles ahead beyond that.
They must realize that they have a readership in print media and audience or viewers in electronic media – who can be guided
or misguided against one community or the other. They must realize that in the process they hold a very sensitive string to
do or undo many things. For this in the media industry itself or more particularly with the journalists themselves – some
unwritten Code of Ethics have been fixed. Adhering strictly to this Ethic factor is all the more important particularly in
reference to covering events of far reaching consequences like – riots between two communities, wars and even in peace
time.
For instance, as regard to the communal riot between two communities; ethically the journalists are to avoid naming the
communities so that a similar atmosphere of tension is not created elsewhere. On this score, even the readers and the
viewers, as the case may have to appreciate the ethical and vital restrain applied by the news persons. But in sharp contrast
to that in recent times, there has been a general trend on to Sensational Reporting. Without doubt, it is a dangerous
trend.
Competitions
Competitions among the media persons and the news organizations are also making their own contribution in encouraging this
sensational kind of reporting. Not forgetting that the regional or local journalism does not mean spreading of parochialism.
In Indian context, these observations carry more weight age as time and again sensational reporting is harming national
fabric more one reason or the other.
After so many years of independence, perhaps it would not be difficult to evaluate how much the country owes to its vigilant
and much dedicated media. The role played by government controlled All India Radio and Doordarshan also remain laudable. The
main achievement of broadcasting and telecasting events, news etc is in the ability to go beyond many barriers and
illiteracy.
Now that reach applies to the electronic media and mushrooming of television news channels of our time
Mushrooming of newspapers
There is probably 200 times growth in the number of newspapers and television and radio channels than it was fifty years ago.
In the developing countries of Africa, South America and Asia including in India, new newspapers and television news channels
are being started regularly. According to an estimate, there were nearly 7000 daily newspapers in the world in 1950s, this
rose to 8100 in late sixties and the number can be any body’s guess.
Practically, every city, township has seen multiple rise of newspapers.
Moreover, trade journal/ magazines are also making foray practically in every field.
The IT revolution and online happening has unleashed journalism into an altogether new phase.
Now to list a few leading newspapers of the world, one can add the names of
1. Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Guardian (UK)
2. New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times (USA)
3. Dawn, Jung (Pakistan)
4. People’s Daily (China)
5. The Hindu, The Indian Express, Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Statesman etc
CNN of US achieved a milestone in 1990 when it could telecast live the bombing between Iraqi and American soldiers. India has
also witnessed mushrooming of television news channels with the emergence of:
New Delhi Television (NDTV), Aaj Tak, Headlines Today, Sahara News, Star News, Times Now etc.
Sports Reporter/Film Criticism
The importance of Sports Reporting has increased manifold in recent times. In fact, there are a number of magazines and
online sites which are wholly devoted to covering sports. There are again some who cover exclusive sports like cricket or
football.
Sports reporting should capture the complete atmosphere of a particular game while giving the facts concerning the game or
the match. Lately, developments off the fields involving sports persons, various sporting bodies the coaches etc also figure
prominently in sports journals or newspapers. Similarly, film criticism or the profession of a book critic have also found a
place in modern times. The critics role is important as the very success of a book or a film often depends on the favorable
or otherwise publications/writings by the film or book critics.
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