Journalism Today

Journalism is one of the most exciting jobs, I always thought. In fact, there was one point when I had a glimpse of thought of becoming a journalist. Well, there were many other jobs which I, at least at some point, was attracted to. Wherever and whatever, if there is a corruption, then media is the way to alert the appropriate so and so to make an action or correct it. And of course journalism is a risky job where they have to meet their occupational hazards of getting arrested, injured etc to get the story out. If a person takes such risks in his/her life, they would definitely not want to take bribes and spread their own opinions. And even if they want, it won't be let happen because telecasting or voicing a news is not an individual work. But there have been kidnaps and murders of media people, which are never taken into any serious account by the regarding authorities, but the voices that rise for media-freedom are seen as just clamoring.

The Journalists would take the risk to get out a story but they are not entitled to use the so-called media freedom to actually deliver the story to the public and if they do expose audaciously, it would be right at the cost of their jobs and lives.

I was inspired to write this, after hearing constitutive attacks on Journalists and Media recently in a number of countries. Totally indigestible, I would say.

There was an attack on one of the television stations in Gaza on the 5th Jan, an Indian Journalist was arrested and there were other events like this on the same day alone. On the following day, there was an attack on one of the largest media in Sri Lanka. Done at gunpoint. And on a couple of days later, a top Journalist/Editor was killed. This profession, which supposed to be a protective one, is now the most dangerous profession not only in Sri Lanka but also in many others. It is a job that is keying on ensuring a country's good governance and in that case, a freedom and protection should be involuntarily available to the media, which is of course not true in the case of what is happening around the world.

One of the main rules in Journalism is to present a news in a balanced, objective manner as well as keeping up the integrity. To do this, they should be free to report the truth, just as they have seen it. On the other hand, I must agree that there are problems with the professionalism and trustworthiness of Media. How many times you have read news that is mostly biased? But what can the public do with it, other than just shrugging your shoulders, tut tut, and move on. The journalists play a key role in doing public services but if one is un-trustworthy, and reporting one sided information whether intentionally or unintentionally, there is nothing that can be done. However, a citizen can clearly say when reading a newspaper if what had been written is leaning one way or another. But I strongly believe this can not be solely blamed on a journalist. Professional ethics should be made aware if not being maintained and not by violence.

I think I have written enough to bore you lot :) Before I draw the curtains, I have to point out a few things. A, This post was purely unintentional and non-specific to anyone except that I used my very own space to share what I think. B, I have chosen to write in this lang, because I thought I could be more precise in what I am saying. Thus, no mistaking of me please ;).

And sorry for making this way too long. Couldn't keep it any more succinct than this.