With #GoBackIndianMedia trending on social media, the debate over journalistic ethics seems to have been reignited. Perhaps, in the era of social media, journalists cannot be termed the 'voice of the people'. True, journalism is history on record. But does it give one the right to forgo essential and basic morals?
April 25, 2015. The worst of tremors struck Nepal causing extensive damage to life and property. Many residents still remain homeless. One can't help but laud the efforts of Indian defence forces to respond quickly to the disaster. The rescue operations carried out by the Indian Air force in the evacuation of Indian nationals is praise worthy. Other neigbouring nations also actively participated in the rescue operations, thereby bringing many of those affected to safer and secure areas. Indeed, all of this would have gone unnoticed had it not been for the visual media. Moreover, the coverage helped mobilise more volunteers to the quake-affected regions.
Social media was instrumental in reaching out to the kith and kin of those who were missing. Twitter and Facebook became the best ways to reach out to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Nepal Government and the embassies stationed in the quake-hit country. The stories of locating people who were reported missing during the disaster via Twitter are still pouring in. Tweets and Facebook posts helped locate a Nepalese friend of mine, who is fortunately safe and is with her family. But soon, there was an outcry in the social media about the media – the Indian media.
Several questions were raised over the ethics of journalism. Thousands wondered why people with cameras could not shut it down for the sake of humanity. Many wondered why those narrating the story/finding out details about a victim's loss could not lend a helping hand. The debate has now set the ball rolling for discussions and strategies towards more comprehensive journalism.
Not too long ago, an aspiring journalist asked me, “If you were asked to cover a grief-stricken incident, say an accident, would you do it and how would you go about it? At first, I was stumped and I wondered if he was trying to put me to the test. But then, I realised that it was something that many of us rarely would have thought about. “ It depends on the gravity of the incident. But in the end, common sense plays a huge role. We are journalists. But most of all, we are human beings. We must be considerate and give due regard to the ones in pain and act accordingly. Even if it does mean lending a helping hand or giving them their space,” I answered.
True. Journalists are like another professional. They are doing their job by reporting from the field and providing exclusive inputs of a situation – no matter how grave and dangerous it may seem. But must journalists forget the very essence of being a human being? Must they deny themselves the opportunity to step away from the world of deadlines and news pegs to help someone live longer? As a community, can't journalists truly help rebuild a nation and give it the strength to move on?
This is a profession and being a journalist is truly a privilege for it is they who have the power to discover and present the truth.