Media is Integral to Democracy

In a country that claims to be a democracy it is up to the executive, legislature and the judiciary —defined in India at least as the three pillars of democracy— to protect the fourth pillar that is the media. And this is done by ensuring that the space is not just created but nurtured so that the media can thrive, honestly and independently. This is despite the knowledge that the independent media will act as a watchdog on the same three pillars, that it will bring wrong to light, and that it will give a voice to the voiceless that governments often like to ignore.

The media in turn cannot be without responsibility and accountability. And hence there exists a code of ethics that governs its functioning. Yellow and sensationalist journalism is not acceptable, and nor is the pillorying of institutions without cause. Individuals regardless of stature cannot be targeted and defamed without the law kicking in as and when required. And fake stories and facts are to be shunned like a pariah, with the business of news gathering that involves heavy fact checking being taken seriously. The call to arms and war by those who describe themselves as journalists is definitely not journalism.

Unfortunately this relationship that marked the uneasy but yet fruitful relationship between the three pillars of democracy, and the fourth that is recognised by all even if not mentioned in the constitution, has fractured over these past years. Governments swing between arresting and intimidating journalists to bribing them with envelopes of cash. The Karnataka incident where big money was distributed by the government to journalists —most of whom accepted the largesse quietly and gleefully— is one of many incidents. Envelopes with cash had become quite the norm at business press conferences in Mumbai a long while ago, with journalists known to line up for perks (state government apartments) and gifts, cash and kind. The difference between then and now is that most editors frowned on this and journalists stood in danger of losing their jobs in the better publications for accepting such monies; and now the tree as they say is rotten from the root to the fruit.

In the years of corporate control and through it, political control, the code of ethics has been dispensed with by journalists. And gradually a system brought in where senseless bashing of anyone and all is not just encouraged but appreciated in the corridors of power ( and of course the social media but that is a toxic space that one is not referring to in this article). The media has been polarised, with the takeover of the 'mainstream' media by the ruling party of the day and the emergence of the 'alternative' largely digital media that seeks to walk the ethical line. But in the process finds itself a bit on the limb in a polarised environment where it finds its very existence to have become difficult. Reporters from the alternative 'side' are targeted, arrested, jailed even as editors are singled out by troll brigades for specific attacks.

Alongside the biased coverage of events in the so called legacy media has ensured a certain disconnect between the journalist and the people. The farmers movement, for instance, refused to speak to journalists representing the big channels and made it clear that they would not give interviews to the big TV anchors. Several Opposition parties have boycotted tv channels. The credibility of journalism has suffered drastically as a result, with editors under pressure, professionals replaced by business appointed CEOs in the media houses, reporters sacked without warning, and with intimidation and arrests and hate speech the environment is in itself hostile to independent journalism.

And it is largely against this background that the fast growing digital enterprise Wire has got itself into deep trouble. And while the reasons are now well known and written about it remains a fact that the editors did not appear to have done due diligence, and stuck to a story challenged by one of the protagonists META in no uncertain terms. Anyways to cut a long story short, Wire withdrew the story, apologised, and filed a FIR against its researcher letting it be known that it had been deliberately hoodwinked.

Before going into the second part of this, let's analyse this in terms of laid our norms of journalism. For one, as we have learnt through the post emergency years investigative stories are always in house as editors refused to outsource these. Documents are scanned by not one but many seniors, the reporter (s) are grilled closely so that any error of judgement or loose fact checking comes to light, and all the checks and balances within are put into play before the story is published. In this case it seems that a lot of faith was reposed in that one researcher of whom little is known. So something went askew at this level as all the editors of Wire are experienced journalists who went wrong somewhere in the initial stages.

This can happen, and does happen in the best of publications. Wire withdrew the story eventually, apologised, and has taken remedial action. It can be censured by journalist bodies, a larger apology demanded, even a legal case filed but to swing the police into action is another level altogether.

And this is where democracy and its checks and balances comes in. Using the police to raid the homes of the senior editors is really unacceptable and a clear infringement of the long established norms concerning the media. This amounts to intimidation and is action used by governments to muzzle the media by spreading fear and terror. It had been experienced by journalists during the emergency, and often in states over the decades. The messenger has been under attack in the past as well, but when incidents mount and a pattern of intimidation emerges it becomes a matter of deep concern.

On the media's part, those seeking the space to report independently, and not kowtow to pressure, have to be extra diligent, extremely careful, and ensure that the space for reporting is increased and not closed through mistakes. And the government has to realise that India is deeply invested in democracy, this cannot be done away with, and that an independent media is essential for the progress of this country. Police raids on journalists for a story that has been withdrawn is sad, as it reflects insecurity, and that certainly does not strengthen India.