Pushing Journalism Towards Public Relations
Naseer Ganai (December 15, 2015)
People in power have a long list of complaints against the media. These days ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) leaders in Jammu and Kashmir often complain that media only highlights negatives of the state. The PDP president Mehbooba Mufti recently said there is too much negativity about Jammu and Kashmir in the media. This negative coverage has undermined J&K’s image, she added. She is not the only one who is complaining.The number of complainants is growing.
In April this year the main river of Kashmir, Jhelum started flowing above danger level creating panic among people. The government’s Flood Control Department declared floods and asked people living close to the river to vacate their houses. Given that in September 2014 devastating floods had caused huge damage, the government presumed that by issuing the flood warning, it would later argue that they were at least prepared and had warned people ahead of the floods. But the announcement was not liked by tourism players and hoteliers. They accused the media of being hyperactive about reporting floods. They alleged the media reportage marred tourism season. Since journalists usually give background to their stories, reporters, while writing about 2015 flood alert, also gave a detailed account of the devastation caused by the floods of a biblical proportion which hit Kashmir in 2014. This was construed as sacrilege by tourism players. They accused media of playing with economic interests of the state.
Last year a leading newspaper of the valley published an article by a serving government official (who preferred to remain anonymous for obvious reasons) in which he revealed the strange desire of some top officials for enforcing writ of the government when all government institutions—Civil Secretariat, Assembly, High Court, Police Control Room—were submerged in the floodwater. They had decided to wade through floodwaters to reach the civil secretariat, the seat of the government. But they failed miserably to reach the secretariat and hence to convey the message that the government exists. Their epic journey was reported in this article by the anonymous writer. The writer contrasted this in detail with the official apathy when people needed them to extend a helping hand. The government responded with the great ‘magnanimity’ which it does on such occasions. It registered an FIR against the newspaper accusing it of spreading misinformation about the government.
Those who are with police and security agencies also have issues with the media. A senior police official recently accused media of “instigation, wishful thinking, selective reporting, glorifying criminality…supporting the movement.” The comment was posted in response to a media report about a youth who, according to his family, was pushed toward militancy by frequent arrests and harassment by police. The reporter had gone to the house of the dead militant to get background details about him and the family told him that harassment by police forced the young man to join militancy. But the police didn’t like this version. Hence, the accusation of instigation, selective reporting so on and so on.
Photojournalists in Kashmir have their own woeful stories to tell. Often when photojournalists rush to cover protests, police and security agencies create hurdles for them in order to dissuade them from fulfilling their professional responsibility. At times they are chased, they are beaten up and even cases have been filed against some of the photojournalists for doing their professional duties. There is a notion among police and security agencies that photojournalists instigate and initiate protests. They don’t realize that photojournalists visit the scene after the commencement of protests.
The government, police, and other security agencies have powerful public relations offices. The state government has a full-fledged information department which disseminates “positive news” about the happenings of the day. The positive news is all about what ministers and chief minister uttered during the day while chairing this and that function. But it seems there is an urge among people in power to turn journalists into public relation personnel and they express it so brazenly. The government should realize that good press hasn’t saved Asian tigers from collapsing and that good and positive news is not a substitute for good governance. The primary function of media is not about public relations nor is it restricted to disseminating information; rather it is to raise uncomfortable questions.
Comments (8)
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Anamitra Chatterjee says: In Democracy media has a very distinctive role as watchdog. They are called the fourth pillar to uphold the democratic system, I think because of their power of criticism. So it is social duty of the Media to uncomfortably question to Government, Administration. (Of course the arena of Justice also should be questioned by media, though it is not possible in our system). For obvious reason administration and government people always try to push media towards public relations. Mr. Ganai very rightly pointed it. But in media’s part there is also a trend to act as PRO. That is dangerous demon to our democracy. We will wait for more precious writings of Mr. Ganai.
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Seemantini Gupta says: The article throws up very interesting but difficult questions. Thanks Mr Ganai for bringing them up. Media is always accused of bringing forward the negativity and morbidity around us. Hardly anyone remembers that we, the media people have not put the morbidity in society. it has always been there!
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Sameek Ghosh says: Public relations and journalism have had a difficult relationship for over a century, characterized by mutual dependence and – often – mutual distrust. In recent years, developments in corporate PR and in political communications mean that the news media outlets are less and less important to the persuaders. The communications business is often able to bypass the gatekeepers. The internet, especially social media, has made reputation more precarious – but it has also given companies, governments and public figures channels of communication of their own. The need to proclaim and protect the brand – personal, corporate or political – means that public relations is now a top-table profession…whilst traditional journalism, often, struggles for survival. This article illuminates and analyses both in a new media age. Thanks for this write up!
Truth is always unpalatable.