The internet has many reports from all around the world proclaiming that journalism is dying or the business of journalism is dying. Those who are part of this industry already know the truth. For several years, journalists stopped getting promotions as newspapers would just do with the minimal and entry level staff. Then, competition became too harsh to maintain the class and dignity of the profession. The good old days of journalism, where accuracy and refinement of language were as important as cross-checking the facts, were left behind. With that, we abandoned the tradition of independent journalism and the legacy of some of the stalwarts in this arena.
Growing up in a small town and attending a government college, we would stop by the magazine shops at railway stations. One of the magazines that we would find affordable was one called Mainstream. This weekly magazine, whose cover itself will have an article, was priced at Rs 3 in the late 1980s. Some may recall it was even cheaper a few years back. We later read about the guy who ran this magazine – Nikhil Chakravarty. Among many distinctions, he is known to have not interviewed any political leader in his entire journalistic career. That was the kind of pride and respect journalism endowed to its practitioners at one point in India’s contemporary history as it moved from the infancy of Independence to Amrit Kaal of today.
There is no doubt that journalism as we know it is dying, and we are not worried about it either. Change is the only constant, and we must move with time and embrace what it brings. But, logically, we expect the government to understand this and make decisions that align with the glorious history of this profession. In 2019, the BJP government at the center stopped giving government advertisements to three major newspapers, which received about Rs 15 crore to Rs 10 crore in government ads monthly. While this news about the top newspapers in the country was reported widely, including in the international press, similar coercive actions against smaller newspapers and news agencies, including IPA whose subscriptions have been withdrawn by central and state government agencies, were not even discussed.
The new business model in the newspaper industry targets government ads and legal and tender notices. All these advertisements are issued by somebody from the government sitting in the chair that decides who should get the advertisement and who should not. Let’s not forget overzealous party workers and leaders who go beyond the call. In other words, the time for bold and independent media is over, as independent corporate advertisers are not getting the bang for their money by advertising in the traditional newspaper industry. The situation for the TV news channels is no different. For them to survive, they have to toe the government line.
Just for the context of why it’s happening, let’s consider the ad revenue generated by two major online brands: Google and Facebook. A report in ET Brand Equity on January 16 says Google India’s gross ad revenue touched Rs 28,000 crore in FY23, increasing 12.49% YoY. Another report by Economic Times on October 24 2023 says Meta India’s (Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp) gross ad revenue grew by 13% to Rs 18,300 crore in FY23.
These details indicate that brand and product advertising has shifted to online platforms. These new advertising mediums thrive on user-generated content with no costs attached. Google shows search engine results of websites we create and make online in the hope of getting noticed by consumers. Facebook and Instagram show what you and I post there, and we always want to please our followers and friends on social media. We post what we think will get maximum likes and shares. That is the platform’s competitiveness, and it comes for free!
While remembering Mainstream and Nikhil Chakravartty or Economic & Political Weekly a poem from my college days comes rolling back to memory. Michael Drayton, who wrote this one, was born in 1563. The poem — Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part— is still as powerful today as it was through the centuries that have passed by! A famous quote of Friedrich Nietzsche goes “I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time.”
And, when it comes to criticism, it’s defined by our education and upbringing. For the educated, it comes with a dash of sophistication — in English or through Mirza Ghalib’s poetry. For the uneducated, it comes with some cuss words — MC, BC, and so on! And, for most Indians who are neither fully educated nor fully illiterate, it must be in English lashed with MC, BC. The government should not care for criticism as both criticism and appreciation are ineffective because of our lack of education to appreciate or see them in the true light. What is important here is journalism should not die in India as this country with one-seventh of the world’s population needs to be informed left center and right. (IPA Service)
Kamal Nath blames media for buzz of switch to BJP 