Timid candidates, pampered journalists

Today’s Marathi journalism can,by no means,be called healthy, writes AROON TIKEKAR
(Reprinted from Freedom First)
Some questions that are agitating in the minds of media watchers of late are: Why has there been this year a sudden spurt in the number of awards announced for Marathi language journalists? Also, why is there almost a mad rush for starting new newspapers or new editions in the Marathi language at a time when every other newspaper house is facing a financial crunch?

And lastly, is the Marathi readership really growing so fast despite the harbingers of tomorrow predicting a slow end for the “printed” word?  The fact is that today's Marathi journalism can, by no means, be called healthy.

Many of the recent Marathi newspapers started, without proper readership Profile and without proper infrastructure, are facing constant danger of abrupt closure. When professionals abandon the slow and sure path in search of shortcuts to success, they are likely to encounter a bumpy road. Then strange and shocking things happen.

The unprecedented increase in the number of media awards in Maharashtra this year is only one such shocker. Close to 1000 awards were announced by various media organizations and others this year around 6th January, a day which is celebrated every year all over Maharashtra as “Patrakaar Din”, it being the birth anniversary of Balshastri Jambhekar  the Father of Marathi journalism.

It was almost difficult for any journalist to escape from getting some award! No journalist in position was spared, not even those who have spent hardly a couple of years in the profession. The fact that some journalists survived in this profession for long, even without any worthwhile contribution, was enough qualification to get the Lifetime Achievement Award. Surprisingly, for years now, the Marathi media persons have ceased to figure in the lists of national honors.

A closer look at the Marathi journalistic scene today reveals that the sudden rise in the number of awards closely follows the scandalous allegations of “paid news” coming to light during or immediately after the recently concluded Parliament and Assembly elections. Therefore, to insiders the spurt in awards is not at all surprising. It is obviously yet another step down the hill of credibility for the Marathi media.

In Act One of the shameful episode, candidates contesting elections were so timid and nervous about their election prospects that they could not resist the offers of ‘pay offs' from some avaricious newspaper proprietors or on their behalf by some over-enthusiastic and ever willing-to-do-anything-for-the-management journalists for publishing convenient news and comments.

In Act Two of that despicable episode, Ministers or M.P.s or M.L.A.s or even local leaders/ businessmen in their mood of generosity “sponsored” awards for journalists for maintaining silence over their misdeeds. Every district of the Maharashtra State invariably has a Press Club or Press Union, some even two or three in a city, started with the blessings (read as funding) of local politicians or businessmen spreading warmth and friendliness who are hell bent on pampering local journalists for obvious reasons.

Ministers of the State Government who are convinced that a “strong fourth estate” is a pre-condition of any democracy, are ever willing to solve all “problems” (read as needs) of journalists from his electorate, lawfully or even otherwise, such as acquiring a plot and constructing a building for the Press Club and donations for the “general fund” in cash or kind towards the running expenses of the Club. Why are they so sympathetic towards journalists? They are, again for obvious reasons afraid of incurring the displeasure of the media persons who can, if displeased, harm their “fair” name.

Marathi journalists perhaps have never had it so good in the entire history of Marathi journalism. They are enjoying power without much of a responsibility at the cost of political leaders who shy away from inviting media displeasure and also rich local businessmen who are crazy about publicity.

That takes us to the second question: Do we require so many newspapers? Some districts have registered as many as 75 or 100 newspapers. It is difficult to believe that all these so called newspapers are carrying out the responsibility entrusted to them in a democratic set up. The time has come to define once more what a newspaper is and what it is supposed to do. For starting a “newspaper” has become an honorable profession to launder black money, or to acquire a political clout, even to blackmail.

It was pathetic to see the young inexperienced brats along with “seasoned” and insolent representatives of the Fourth Estate strutting around at election time asking opinionated questions to one and all. For most of them journalism appears to be a privilege and not a responsibility, a power and not a duty. Being awarded too quickly and too easily is a sure way to get a bloated ego and that is a danger to society.

For sure, there is no need to lose heart. Every beginning fortunately has an end. That is the law of Nature. The days when credibility of a newspaper is of utmost importance will be here again.

aroontikekar@gmail.com
(सौजन्य - द हूट)