Plod on

Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland celebrated the National Press Day on the theme “Changing Nature of Press” on November 16 last at Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung under the aegis of the respective Press Clubs. Indeed, the Press does have a changing nature simply because anything animate ~ persons, communities, societies, nations, institutions ~ is constantly evolving and changing therefore dynamic. As the rest of the pillars of democracy ~ legislature, executive and judiciary ~ the Fourth pillar, the Press, is also highly dynamic and vibrant. Now, this dynamism and vibrancy could be positive or negative but not necessarily exclusively ~ for any change comes with both the positive and the negative. What matters are the degree and the quality of change ~ which weighs more ~ the positive or the negative. Moreover, if we look at the over-all Press scenario in India, we will find differences between the urban and rural areas and among different regions depending on numerous political, economic, social, cultural, etc. factors. In the Northeast itself the focus of the Press in different States varies as much as it does between the urban and the rural areas. This trend prevails in Nagaland too as we see that the concerns of our rural areas, which are yet to receive more attention, are different from that of our urban areas. In Nagaland, as we can trace the functioning of the Press since the early 1930s, and obviously there has been a sea of change ever since, the question is where does the positive and the negative stand vis-à-vis our Press. In terms of technology, yes there has been immense change but technology is a time-related tool and does not reflect on the quality of content. What should really matter for us is the Press’ impact on our people in the political, economic, social, educational and cultural realms. Having completed almost forty years in the media, it is a sad statement but most of the issues in these past four decades remain constant ~ such as power supply, roads, neglected primary and other schools, colleges and heath facilities, etc. This is mainly due to our failure to take the Governments to task on their unsatisfactory and unacceptable performance and to educate our people on their right to question Governments and get answers. Basically we have failed to educate our people on their rights, privileges, freedoms, liberties and guarantees enshrined in the Constitution. We have failed to educate our people that we are citizens that deserve, not subjects to supplicate Governments for roads, schools, water supply and other basic infrastructure. We have failed to educate our people that sale of votes further perpetuates development-deficit, mis-governance, corruption, nepotism, unemployment and poverty. If we cannot “up-grade” our people and our State the way we up-grade our technology, we fail our people and our profession. A crucial issue that was discussed at the National Press Day celebrations at Mokokchung was, as the Morung Express reported: “…how society often prefers positive portrayals over critical analyses, which challenges the press in delivering objective reporting. … society often only wants to read favourable narratives about themselves but the media’s role is to present the truth while maintaining ethical standards”. It is human nature to want accolades and validation but the point here is how successful have the Press been to hold up the mirror to our people ~ even if it hurts. Our job entails tough love, not PR, not feel-good stories and free advertisements for young and old people into all kinds of activities and enterprises. Our job is to lead and to form opinions, not to pander to the current whims, fancies, and trends of the people or the Government ~ much less be led by their heart’s desires. Independent media connotes independent thinking, not catering to market demands. Perhaps the Press’ impact in Nagaland has not been as much as we would have liked simply because much like the Press elsewhere, we too are following trends and narratives thereof instead of leading trends and not being influenced by narratives. Inarguably, the Press here lives a very precarious and perilous existence and we are still negotiating the sharp bends of the roads in a development-deficit society and State deeply rooted in customary, cultural, traditional and religious ways of life ~ often unwilling to listen, discourse, see another’s point of view and agree to disagree. Herein lies the challenge to democracy, therefore to the Press, so we must plod on.