Media is “the intellectual backbone of any nation”: K Temjen Jamir

Media professionals responsible for writing the first drafts of history: Dr. Aküm Longchari
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16: The Dimapur Press Club celebrated National Press Day on Saturday on the theme “Changing Nature of Press” at DBIDL Hall, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School campus with Editor of Tir Yimyim, K Temjen Jamir, as the theme speaker.

In his address, Jamir likened the day to an independence day for the media fraternity. He narrated how the press has evolved over the centuries, beginning with the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg.

He said that this year’s theme is appropriate for obvious reasons, as the actions of ‘change’ dominate the first quarter of the 21st century, particularly with the evolving nature of the press in reaching its audience through technological advancements in mass communication.

Stating that media serves as a medium of education for human lives, he said that the press can act as a mediator by listening to each side impartially and presenting each position without bias, thereby helping conflicting parties find common ground to resolve issues peacefully.

Describing it as “the intellectual backbone of any nation”, Jamir mentioned that modern social media has introduced a number of new challenges, which are a cause of serious concern. One significant issue is the alarming spread of fake news, which misinforms the public and misleads even responsible individuals. This requires serious attention and the need for constant vigilance.

The sole purpose of media, he said ~ be it print or electronic, traditional forms of media, or new media in the modern world ~ is to convey a message. The only difference lies in the speed of dissemination and the breadth of coverage. While the nature of the press has evolved, its purpose remains unchanged.

Speaking about artificial intelligence (AI), it was remarked that AI has become indispensable in modern life. Newsrooms and news reporting that fail to integrate AI into their systems risk being left behind.

According to him, while modern communication technology, which continually changes the nature of the press, makes the work of media professionals easier, faster and more expansive, it also becomes more challenging due to the responsibility for ensuring the quality and reliability of reports.

Dr. Aküm Longchari, the publisher of The Morung Express remarked that the evolving press is more about its changing form than its essence. He stated that the principles and foundation of a free press remain unchanged.

No doubt the forms of media have evolved, but the real challenge lies in how these principles are applied within these new formats, he said.

He mentioned that one of the emerging trends is the growing gap between facts and feelings ~ between the reality of what happened on the ground and the emotions or perceptions of others.

He stated that media professionals are responsible for writing the first drafts of history and emphasised the critical choice of whether these drafts will be based on feelings or facts.

According to him, mainstream media appears to be shifting more toward feelings, as feelings are what sell and attract viewers. He noted that even readers sometimes perceive facts as boring or mundane. However, he stressed the importance for journalists and field reporters to prioritise facts over feelings.

He said that when society is built on feelings rather than facts and truth, its policies, analyses and understanding are driven by emotion. Therefore, he urged the gathering, as the first documenters of history, to reflect deeply on this challenge of their time.

He expressed that it is also a day for media professionals to reflect and engage in self-criticism because, to understand the changing form and nature of the media and the press, they need to engage in honest self-criticism.

He stated that the concept of breaking news no longer applies to newspapers, as this responsibility has shifted to digital media. Therefore, newspapers must reinvent themselves by focusing on what digital media cannot achieve.

Saying that the credibility of the media becomes so important and that if they want the public of Nagaland to invest in the media as an institution of public service, Dr. Longchari said the members of the media need to change and the image they present to the world around them needs to undergo some radical transformation.

Speaking about “paid news,” he added that it is difficult to speak out against a culture of corruption if the media itself accepts resources, as this creates a contradiction between the values and ideals they claim to stand for.

(Page News Service)