Opinion Forum

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A journalist is a person who practices journalism. He/she is a professional communicator working for the flow of news through mass media such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, film and the Internet. Journalists find the sources for their reports; the reports can be either spoken or written; is supposed to report in the most objective and unbiased way to serve the public good. The expectation of professionalism includes consideration for truth and ethics.

Many people consider journalist interchangeable with reporter, a person who gathers information and creates a written report or news story. However, there are many other types of journalists, such as columnists, photojournalists, and sub editors or copy editors. Journalists have been appreciated as the persons giving voice to the voiceless persons. They have great role in agenda setting and public opinion building. These days, journalists’ role as the Human Rights defender has got wide attention.

If we ask question what is journalism for? Then giving the answer is not so easy. The newspapers and other mass media institutions are mainly private, profit-making business with a special role: delivering information, opinion and entertainment to people. Thus they have a social responsibility and are granted special freedoms protected by the Constitution.

In other words a modern press or any type of media institution has a dual aspect: primarily, it is a medium of expression and communication of information and ideas; and it is also an industrial and business establishment that is carried on for profit. The first object motivated the origin of journalism. The question of a profit making business hardly arose before the invention of the printing press, and the advent of democracy. Printing and publication of Newspapers and broadcasting of TV and Radio all have been came to as a means of livelihood or investment.

IWith the development and growth of commerce, advertisement in mass media has itself become a business and the main source of business. It is the advertisement due to which newspapers are available in cheaper price, even less than their publication cost. The expansion of the commercial aspect has given rise to problems also. There may be tension between the commercial interests and pure journalistic interests and duties.

We must understand mass media as the institution responsible for providing the public with a free flow of information and opinion but at same time the media are also business with the aim of making money. When we talk about newspapers they are expected to carry out certain public functions, obey the rules and regulations of the country, and serve the people. At the same time they must make a profit to survive. So there is always doubt whether advertising or other revenue sources influence the content of the newspaper.

While newspapers, magazines, TV and radio depend on advertising revenue the advertisers in turn are interested whether the advertising is being able to increase their sell. Thus commercial media are ruled by the law of large numbers. That is, there is probability that whatever content will attract the largest number of consumers and produce the most advertising money will be the content provided. The influence of advertisers or capitalists may cause such a condition that media compelled not to listen the commoners. Here the fundamental duty of media may be jeopardized. Also the type of ownership also determines various things.

Though there is little evidence that advertisers or big business per se tell the newspapers what to print, but clearly the media want to please those who support them. The danger is that those who are poor or commoners will be cut out of the communication process.

In other words, the dual identity of newspapers, due to which they are quasi-public institutions that claim to serve the public interest on one hand and on the other hand they are profit-making business that can be very self-serving, may show up some conflicts. The conflict may be within the institution, for example, the advertising department and newsroom may compete for space, or they may argue over how some stories should be covered.

We know that the theory of freedom of the press assumes that the press will not overlook the needs of the poor and powerless. Though mass media have a dual responsibility- to their owners and advertisers, and to the public; both of them are very important; but the priority should be given to the public. Only then the freedom of mass media will be meaningful.

The mass media in democratic system are often described as a ‘trustee’ or ‘representative’ of the people, and even as a ‘fourth branch of government’ because of its duty. The free press clause of the First Amendment of US constitution and also of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal has both right and duty aspect. It is only in a world of duties that rights have significance. The press must be a watchdog, not a lapdog.

The principles and purpose of journalism are defined by something more basic- the function news plays in the lives of the people. For all that the face of journalism may change, but its purpose remains remarkably constant, since the notion of the journalism first evolved. There always exists a clear philosophy of mass media that its primary purpose is to provide people with the information they need to free and self-governing. It has been said that the central purpose of journalism is to tell the truth so that people will have the information that they need to be sovereign.

The notion of press freedom itself is not out of Human Rights’ scope. The complete sovereignty of people and perfect human dignity would be guaranteed only in the state of guaranteeing the Human Rights. A journalist could not be detached from the people and this very fact naturally compels journalist to be concerned about people’s agenda. While you are putting people’s agenda first, you are obviously working for Human Rights cause knowingly or unknowingly.

Nrimala Mani Adhikary
January 26, 2006