The title is indicative of this post. Mainstream Journalism is dead or gasping in its last moments. Unfortunately, mainstream journalism is on its way out. People today are turning away from mainstream journalism that aligns itself with the Government in power. It would not be wrong to state that today fewer people subscribe to mainstream journalism that subscribes to the government in power.
It wouldn't not be wrong to claim that fewer people today subscribe to mainstream journalism because it projects the views of the Government in power. I, personally, have stopped watching popular news channels because they present a distorted view of what is happening at the grassroots level. Today's journalism is based on sentiment and popular trends, but not on actual facts.
This is the reason why Citizen Journalism is on the uptake. People have foregone watching popular news channels that provide more suspect information about things happening around the world today. The war between Russia and Ukraine is laced with one-sided information, while the war in the Middle East is based on who scored brownie points.
The lack of trust in mainstream journalism has led to people watching reels and on-site videos of actual incidents taking place in real time. Today, more and more people are shifting from mainstream journalism to what is called as Citizen Journalism. Gone are the days when we had authentic journalists like Mark Tully or even Peter Arnett.
Journalism today is based on subscribing to the popular view of the government in power. The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) of Iran claims hits on ships slipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while the American News channels disclaim these claims. One wonders whom one should believe. Back home, one is forced to believe what the news channels say: that all is well in the region. The rise of the so-called Godi Media in India has given rise to an era of suspicion and doubt about the authenticity of what is being reported. Unfortunately, authentic journalism is dead because it is driven by propaganda and the need to align itself with the government in power.
Mainstream news channels are losing on TRP ratings, and more and more citizens are shifting to reels and on-the-spot reporting of actual incidents by Citizen Journalists. The rise of Citizen Journalism is driven by the desire for authentic on-the-spot reportage of events backed by reliable evidence. Mainstream Journalism is no longer an authentic proof, and it is being sidelined by Citizen Journalism.
The power of the internet has given rise to people who drive news. As more and more people resort to the gifts of the internet, they have provided a challenge to mainstream journalism. The fact is that today there are fewer takers for mainstream journalism. Mainstream Journalism is languishing because it is driven by the need to toe the line of the Government in power. Yellow page journalism is on the rise today because it is driven by incentivisation and other inducements. Authentic journalism no longer exists as it is subverted and not in line.
The fact of the matter is that mainstream journalism has taken a backseat today, and it has led to the rise in popularity of citizen journalism that might be "unregulated" by the so-called "ethics of journalism". Unfortunately, we are today bombarded by information that is not authenticated. The distrust with mainsteam journalism has led to people turning away from it. People are smarter than before, and they are capable of realising that the news that they are being fed is nothing but propaganda! Mainstream journalism is dead because it is fed by propaganda and not authenticity.
Journalism is believed to be the fourth pillar of Democracy, but then Democracy is dead, and when democracy is compromised, journalism too is compromised! When Journalism no longer functions as a watchdog of democracy, it loses its authenticity! Ideally, journalism is supposed to function as a watchdog and a cornerstone of an open, transparent, and accountable society. Unfortunately, this is not true today! True journalism is based on the following assumptions:
Informed Citizenship: A healthy democracy requires an electorate that can make educated decisions based on information provided by a free press. A free press provides facts, diverse perspectives, and a necessary context on national and global issues. A free press facilitates public discourse. Fair and effective journalism provides a forum where different opinions, grievances, and debates can be aired, discussed, and addressed. True Journalism is supposed to protect Civil Liberties. True journalism shines a light on human rights violations, gives voice to marginalised communities, and protects the fundamental rights of the people.
It is a matter of great disappointment that today, Journalism has taken a backseat and it no longer functions as a watchdog to prevent infractions in society. Mainstream journalism has taken up the role of forwarding the agenda of the government, and it does not really protect the rights of the citizens.
The reader might also like to read an article on journalism published by me a few years ago:
https://rodrickwrites.blogspot.com/2020/05/challenges-before-journalism-in-2020.html
No comments:
Post a Comment