Journalism is dynamic and is constantly being subjected to several forces of change such as societal norms and values. At any given point, certain trends are prominently visible in journalism as outlined below...
1. Decreasing importance of ethics:
Journalism is witnessing a paradigm shift with respect to the value system associated with data collection and presentation. In the past, information was gathered through reliable and willing sources. The trend today is veering more towards obtaining information “at any cost” and through any source. The pressure on journalism to attract the attention of its target population is immense as there is cut-throat competition among members of the journalistic fraternity. This is encouraging the trend where the ends are becoming more important than the means and this is true of all streams of journalism. Sensationalism and irresponsibility have crept into and secured a firm footing in Indian journalism and have very often overtaken ethicality.
An example of the irresponsibility in journalism is the nature of coverage of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack. Journalism that was hitherto considered an unbiased presentation of news and information is today coloured by the views and affiliations of journalists. Neutrality and ethics are becoming rarer commodities in Indian journalism. Commercialization of media and subsequently of journalism which is highly dependent on media has contributed considerably to this growing trend. Another very visible trend in journalism is the lack of regard for what is considered as private. Journalism today is straddling areas which were till now considered outside its purview,
mainly because it involved private lives of individuals. But today, there is no area which journalism respects and treats as “off limits”. A pointer in this regard is the widely discussed alleged pregnancy of Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan.
2. Changing objectives:
Over the years, the very essence of journalism has also undergone a major shift. In the past, Indian journalism was mainly confined to providing news that had a major impact on people's lives, was relevant and meaningful. However, rather than satiating the hunger for knowledge and information, journalism today is directed more towards sensationalism. More space is being given to trivia and this is being led in great part by consumerism. For example, the Sania Mirza-Shoaib Malik marriage and the saga that ensued before that received coverage which was disproportionate to its relevance. There is an increasing lack of balance in journalism with the predominance of either of these two extremes namely, content and presentation being completely dry and relevant, or completely “playing to the gallery”. Integrity, relevance, accuracy, neutrality and honesty that once formed the bulwark of journalism are slowly losing their relevance. Once driven by majorly by ideals, today journalism is more guided and influenced by commercial concerns. Where once collection and presentation of information were concerned only with the conveying relevant facts as they were, today the same are influenced
by what garners more eye balls and monetary rewards. In the past journalism was considered more a behind- the- scene profession, but today it is much more in the limelight. Journalists have become celebrities in their own right and to such an extent that who the journalist is overrides their journalistic content.
3. Wider participation and influence of laymen:
In the past, the association of the target audience with journalism was limited to either “Letters to the Editor”, or providing opinions over the phone. But today, there is a more in-depth participation of laymen. Citizen-journalism and use of the internet for discussing and conveying opinions has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years. This is a pointer to the trend of wider, more active and in-depth participation of people from all walks of life in journalism. Also, there is a marked influence seen of the target population on journalism. From the content to presentation, journalism is being dictated by people more now than it was in the past. Journalism is making use of inputs from people it aims to reach out to through avenues like social networking and micro-blogging.
4. Increasing trend towards social activism:
Journalism has always been one of the pillars of democracy. Today journalism is taking this role to greater heights through social activism. In the past, the end point of journalism was limited to the dissemination of news and information. But today there is a growing trend towards using the information to actually shape actions, responses and outcomes. Journalism is being used as a potent weapon to ensure corrective action wherever necessary, often with beneficial and positive effects. Journalism is becoming a more pro-active watchdog of the society. The proactive role played by journalism in exposing the 2G scam and subsequent pressure exerted on the powers that be to take action on the perpetrators of this scam is a good example of the same. Another positive effect of social activism has been the generating of awareness and acceptance regarding hitherto taboo / misunderstood ideas, conditions and notions such as autism, etc. The flipside is the tendency to arrive at conclusions or opinions without allowing for the “due process of law” to play out.
5. Increasing nexus between journalism and politics/ people in power:
In the past, journalism limited itself to acting as a via-media between the policy makers and the general public. However, today journalism has donned a more powerful mantle. It is no longer limited to being an interface. Instead, it has become a power-house in itself wielding immense influence and clout. Journalism has become instrumental in promoting and patronizing political parties and politicians. This trend has been accentuated by the increasing ownership of media which serve as the vehicles of journalism by politicians. Cases in point are the Kannada channel “Kasthuri” owned by Mrs Anitha. Kumaraswamy, wife of Shri. H.D. Kumaraswamy and Kalaignar TV majority owned by Mrs. Dayalu Ammal wife of Shri. Karunanidhi and Mrs Kanimozhi, daughter of Shri. Karunanidhi.
Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).
Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in July, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
Out of 5 “chilies”, our editorial team gave this article...
—About our writer:
Pavana has an MA in Sociology from Pondicherry University and a B Sc in Economics, Maths and Statistics from Bangalore University. She also has a Diploma in Counselling Skills. Pavana has worked in the social development sector where she gathered valuable experience in program planning and implementation, documentation and research, and report writing. As an active trader in the Indian stock market over the past six years, she has developed a good insight into the workings of the Indian financial markets.
>> Read more articles written by Chillibreeze writers:
Chillibreeze offers Indian writers the opportunity to work on customer projects. We are also India’s biggest writer network and a one-stop shop for Indian writers and editors. The writers’ section on Chillibreeze offers freelance writers and editors a variety of tools to advance their careers. Resources for writers include:
