Selling news space culture concerns journalists

Rapid commercialization of the mainstream media, degradation of media

ethics and practices in the country and the subsequent eroding public

trust and support to the entire media community were some of the

relevant issues those were discussed in a media conference held in

Mumbai on December 5 last.
The speakers in the annual general meeting of South Asian Free Media

Association (India chapter) were also unanimous that the media in the

entire region must come forward for paving way for an atmosphere for

better understating among the people from different countries.

Though admitted about the limitation and also the nature of recent

challenges facing by the media in the region in particular and then

globe in general, the speakers claimed that the media must remain or

stand a lone voice for the benefit of the common people in the coming

days.
An official statement of the SAFMA India expressed serious concern, at

the growing trend in the Indian media of selling news space, saying

“The recent assembly elections in Maharashtra and elsewhere had

revealed the spread of the pernicious practice of accepting money for

giving editorial space to contestants. In fact, this evil had been

perpetrated by instituationalising it.”
Addressing the audience, eminent journalist P Sainath elaborated the

challenges for the media persons in India, where many of them are

being forced to engage in some activities, which are not ethically

acceptable to them. He claimed that the corporatisation of the media

world has simply threatened the existence of free media.

“Now the newspaper owners are greatly influenced by the political

clouts. And to entertain their growing demands, many media groups have

even go for arranging extra space in the advantageous period,”

Sainath, who is the rural affairs editor of The Hindu, said, adding

that if the newspapers (also TV news channel) start receiving huge

amount of money as advertisement, but in an improper way, the

journalist-editors have hardly anything to do.
“I believe if a journalist wants to be corrupt, that is his choice.

What I express concern that in many occasions, the
reporter-journalist-editors are asked (or compelled) to do some

activities, which they really don't like to obey. But only because of

the job, they do so and that way contributes in biased journalism,”

Sainath stated.
He observes that the contract system of appointment of journalists by

the media managements has affected the independence of media persons

to a great extent. Sainath finally asserted, “Let's finish the culture

of 'paid news' in the media, otherwise it will finish us in the coming

days.”
Sainath, while advocating legislation against such malpractices,

emphasized on the strengthening the existing regulatory bodies like

Press Council of India. He also opined that the Election Commission

(of India) had a major role to play 'in curbing misuse of the press

and money power in politics'.
Inaugurated by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, the meet

was attended by a number of eminent journalists from various parts of

the country and also representatives from Pakistan and Bangladesh. In

his inaugural speech, the Chief Minister Chavan urged the media

persons from the region to play a greater role in paving way for an

atmosphere of better friendship among various nations for sustainable

partnership, growth and development.
Eminent Pakistani journalist Imtiaz Alam, while expressing his views,

observed that the media in both India and Pakistan have to play

responsible role while reporting bilateral issues.
“I observe that there are growing numbers of Indian experts on

Pakistan and also Pakistani experts on India. Please do not believe

them as they lack credibility,” said Alam.
The secretary general of SAFMA concluded his version saying, “Please

don't term Pakistan as an enemy nation. I say the same for the

Pakistani journalists towards India as well. Our country is under

tremendous threat from the terrorists. We expect some solidarity from

the largest democracy in the world. Being a journalist, I feel we have

to do more for the people of both the countries.”
Alam, also a renowned human right activist earlier offered his

condolences to the victims and their families of the Mumbai tragedy

(26/11). He concluded his remark emphasizing the need for resumption

of dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad for curbing terrorism and

also all round development of the region.
The Bangladeshi journalist Reazuddin Ahmed made it a point that an

inherent suspicion remained always intact with the people in general

and the journalists in particular of South Asia. The editor of The

News Today, an English daily published from Dhaka, emphasised more

journalists to travel their neighbouring countries to understand

relevant issues and report accordingly. He also appealed to the

governments of the region to make relaxation to visa rules for the

benefit of the travelling journalists.
The meet was also addressed by eminent Indian journalist-editors K K

Katyal (president of SAFMA India), Kumar Ketkar (editor of Loksatta),

Vinod Sharma (political editor of Hindustan Times), Om Thanvi (editor

of Jansatta), Sreekant Khandekar with the former Union IB minister

Ravi Shankar Prasad, film maker Madhur Bhandarkar and technocrat

Sanjay Gaikowad, where they explained about the challenging days ahead

of the media and also many survival strategies that might be adopted

by the working journalists.
The annual general meeting was concluded with the election of news

office bearers of organization, where S Nihal Singh (columnist) was

selected as the president, Satish Jacob (former BBC broadcaster) as

general secretary and Kumar Ketkar as its vice- president.

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