Credibility of Press and Ways to Safeguard it

K. Saroj Kumar Sharma, 16 November 2015: In today's fast-paced digital world, media outlets swiftly disseminate news to a large number of people. While accurate reporting garners recognition, spreading unverified information and fake news leads to criticism, backlash, disruption of democratic processes, and disturbance of social norms. Besides eroding trust in the media, fake news undermines press credibility, making it challenging for people to understand what is true and what is false.

This phenomenon occurs at a time when the traditional print media’s temptations decline languidly and digital platforms gain traction, empowering influencers and online commentators to share information, entertainment, and opinions.

It is common knowledge that such declination happens owing to the rise of digital media, also known as "new media". In response, traditional press or "old media" is enhancing its mechanisms and styles to attract the audience.

Emerging technologies, such as digital automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), have also become key tools for content creation and personalisation. However, the misuse of these cutting-edge media tools has had significant negative social impacts on individuals and society.

Today, mobile phones are a key tool for disseminating information, especially spot incidents and other easily accessible events, including announcements, to the people rapidly via social media platforms, often in raw form.

This phenomenon is further evident in how people instantly capture and upload incidents on social media, often without considering the consequences after the clips are posted.

Typically, a few minutes after mobile users upload any information, it is carried out as breaking news by some television media and news portals.

After about half an hour or a little later, similar information is carried again on television’s regular news, and if time permits, mid-day news outlets and evening news outlets also publish the same.

The following day, morning dailies also carry the same story with authentication and more details, despite most people already being aware of it.  After a few days, periodicals, if interested, provide in-depth analysis or comprehensive coverage of the same, often after thorough investigation.

At this critical juncture, traditional media struggles to keep pace with digital platforms in disseminating information, particularthe ly spot news. Breaking news often spreads unverified, eroding public trust and diminishing credibility of the press, the fourth pillar of democracy.

During a media workshop in Imphal a couple of days back, the director of Manipur information and public relations department, Ngangom Uttam, rightly remarked that while digital systems have made life and work much easier, they also pose significant risks at the individual level. Uttam also cautioned that cyber systems are being used as modern warfare tools by developed nations.

The director warned about the dangers of spreading misinformation and incomplete news, which can mislead the public and create unrest. He urged media bodies, such as the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) and the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), to promote awareness about responsible social media use.

Paid news, advertorials and yellow journalism 

Fake news isn't the only issue; paid news, advertorials, and yellow journalism are also prevalent, damaging the credibility of the press. Paid news compromises journalists' integrity, erodes public trust, and undermines the ethics of journalism. Laws to curb paid news have been enacted in several countries, including India.

The Press Council of India (PCI) defines paid news as “Any news or analysis appearing in any media (print and electronic) for a price in cash or kind as a consideration”.

It said that during the election, the paid news phenomenon has three dimensions.

Furthermore, the council stated that the reader or viewer does not get a clear picture of the candidate's personality or performance, whether in favour of or against whom they decide to cast their vote. This destroys the very essence of democracy.

Contesting candidates may not disclose their election expenses in the expenses account, thereby violating the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, framed by the Election Commission of India under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Those newspapers that received the money in cash but did not disclose it in their official statements of accounts have violated the Companies Act, 1956, as well as the Income Tax Act, 1961, besides other laws.

For violating its “Norms of Journalistic Conduct” the PCI initiates actions on paid news cases in the print media reported by the Election Commission of India (ECI) or the general public.

In Manipur, there have been reports highlighting the darker side of journalism, where influential individuals and groups allegedly hand over envelopes containing cash to journalists in exchange for favourable coverage. This should not have been done to preserve the bringing out of fair, unbiased, and balanced writings.

This purportedly ugly practice, known as the "Tin Taba Programme" (a programme in which journalists are paid), is a buzz phrase among media circles more often during elections.

This alleged unprincipled exercise could stem from certain reasons, including a lack of journalism ethics and meagre salaries paid to the scribes by their respective media houses.

Attack on the Press and the safety of journalists

Globally, press freedom and journalists' lives are at risk due to war, socio-political instability, and economic factors, putting in peril the noble profession of journalism.

According to the statistics of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), at least 92 journalists as well as media workers have been killed in the line of duty, the majority of them in war zones like Palestine, Ukraine and Sudan, since the beginning of the current year.

Demanding an end to the killing of journalists in Gaza, around 200 media houses across the globe protested by way of disrupting their front pages, home pages and broadcasts a few months back

This came after the death toll of scribes in Gaza rose to over a whopping 210 since October 7, 2023. For nearly a couple of years, Israel has simultaneously barred foreign media from entering Gaza, leaving Palestinian scribes to report under fire.

In conflict-torn Manipur, seven journalists, including editors, have been gunned down since the early 1990s. Except for Thangjam Dwijamani, a television reporter, who was shot by Manipur police on December 23, 2013,  while he was covering a ferocious public protest at Imphal West’s Thangmeiband area here, the other six were killed by unidentified persons. To date, no explanations have been made by any groups, thus making these killings a mystery. Sadly, none of the perpetrators have been arrested by the law-enforcing agencies, although cases have been registered.

Apart from killings, the press in Manipur has also come under intimidation and attacks by both the state and non-state actors, forcing the scribes to suspend their work for days and carry out different forms of protests over the years.

A team of Manipur journalists, who were heading towards Ukhrul district on May 20 this year in a government bus to cover the Shirui Lily festival, a major cultural event, were detained by security forces at a checkpoint at Gwaltabi near Imphal for some time. The word “Manipur” from the bus’s signage “Manipur State Transport” (MST) was also concealed following the personnel’s instructions.

Following a string of protests organised by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) in addition to public and civil bodies’ uproar, the state government conducted a probe into it and informed the union that action had been taken as per the findings of the inquiry report.

Despite the reply, AMWJU and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) warned that they would resume the protest if the freedom of the press is compromised.

Journalists’ safety is essential in bringing out credible news, as scribes need to work fearlessly.

In its national executive committee meeting held in September this year in Uttar Pradesh, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU), among other points, demanded that the Centre enact a journalists’ safety and security law and to amend the “ repressive” digital laws which pose a threat to press freedom.

The Union cited the Maharashtra Journalists' Protection Act as a model and urged the Central government to introduce national legislation to ensure uniform safeguards for scribes across the country.

The union’s president and former Press Council of India (PCI) member, Geetartha Pathak, said “journalism in India is under siege; however, journalists cannot be silenced.”

"Our commitment to truth, democracy, and justice must remain stronger than the pressures we face. Let's leave this NEC meeting with renewed determination – to protect journalism, to defend free speech, and to strengthen our union. Together, we will continue to be the voice of journalists and the conscience of democracy in India," Pathak reaffirmed.

IJU general secretary and vice president of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Sabina Inderjit, urged its affiliates to be proactive in voicing against impunity against journalists in India and globally, such as in the Israel-Gaza war, and specifically to those Palestinian journalists who were unjustly killed by Israeli soldiers. 

She also expressed deep concern over the growing attacks on journalists in India, “who are critical of the ruling government”.

In the same meeting, Pathak also urged the journalist community to embrace new frontiers in terms of new technologies, such as digitalisation and artificial intelligence, while staying rooted in ethics, credibility, and public trust.

 "AI offers new opportunities – from data analysis to investigative reporting, from content automation to audience engagement. But it also poses challenges, including job losses, ethical dilemmas, and the flood of misinformation and disinformation that is weakening trust in journalism and democracy," he asserted.

Pathak also laid out his one-year roadmap vision for the Union, including Establishing a national legal aid cell for journalists facing police cases or harassment, Launching a safety helpline for immediate reporting of attacks, Capacity building and training, Solidarity and advocacy partnerships with international organizations like IFJ and RSF, Lobbying for the Journalist Protection Bill, which remains pending, Encouraging every affiliate to recruit young and digital journalists to build strong state-level solidarity funds to support journalists in distress, Special campaigns on climate journalism, fake news combat, and democratic rights.

The Union also urged the Centre to implement a uniform pension scheme for journalists nationwide.

Remedies for safeguarding press credibility 

As the charm of journalism slowly fades amid the rise of fake news in various digital platforms, paid news and yellow journalism, the need of the hour is to streamline the whole news operating systems in the concerned media houses and move towards the path of ethical journalism.

In addition to following the standing guidelines– “Norms of Journalistic Conduct” prescribed by the PCI and the conventional ethics and principles of journalism,  the press should highlight credible news which has the components of truth, fairness, accuracy, balance, accountability, completeness, trustworthiness and independence.

Furthermore, the government should also take appropriate measures to protect freedom of the press, ensuring that journalists discharge their duties in a professional manner with dignity. There is also the need to strengthen fact-based reporting.

Furthermore, the press should also not shirk its responsibility to shape society and build a strong nation.

(The writer is Associate Editor of The Morning Bell. He is also a member of the National Executive Committee of the Indian Journalists Union. He can be contacted at sarojmanipur@gmail.com.