By: Pulkit Sharma
World Press Freedom Day: Before wishing you a Happy World Press Freedom Day, it should be noteworthy that our nation stands 142 out of 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index (however we’re still ahead of Pakistan and that's more than sufficient).
Considering the past few years as an exception, the motive of the Indian press had always been to work for news, facts and justice. However, the journalists(yeah still there are some who are putting in efforts) now are finding it hard to work for the same and journalism is on the verge of extinction.
Before moving further, it must be noted that the nation had witnessed the killings of 5 journalists last year. This situation is scary cause a nation whose constitution delivers the most flexible living to its citizens when fails to ensure safety on account of freedom of speech.
Last year marked the killing of 19 journalists across the world out of which 4 of them were Indian journalists. Indian journalists including Manish Singh, Chennakeshavalu, Avinash Jha and Raman Kashyap got killed for some or the other reason whereas Sulabh Srivastava died in an accident.
The only good thing that happened during the time of Covid was the restoration of the dilapidated yet fourth pillar of democracy. The way journalists and media organisations worked tirelessly to spread awareness regarding Covid and questioned the authorities at the time raised a ray of hope that journalism once again would be able to contribute to the nation's growth. However, "Raat Gayi, Baat Gayi" and things went into the same narrative as it was working earlier.
There's no second opinion to the thought that Journalism had never been a profession in the state, earlier it was considered a passion and now it had turned into a business.
Most of the organisations today have traded their souls in charge of handsome rupees. A courtesan too many times would refuse to pay her services but a media person today has forgotten to say no to Lusty Deals.
It would be wrong to target a single person or entity for the shameful transition in the scenario. It manifests the opportunistic behaviour of the media persons and the entities who loved to be in the boat which suited them the most. Alas!
The most disheartening fact indicated by the World Press Freedom Index is that the country was owing to a position of 133 in the year 2016 and it slipped to 142 the previous year, yet we’re still ahead of Pakistan and that’s more than sufficient.
However, this scenario or this rank won’t be ever discussed in the war rooms aka newsroom studios as it would be difficult to play the blame game at the global level.
