How free is the media here ? Threatening newsmen
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 24 2015 -

How free is the media in Manipur ?

This question gains credence in the backdrop of the bomb planted at the residence of the Editor-in-Chief of Impact TV on December 14.

As widely reported in the State dailies, the bomb threat came after the Imphal based newspapers refused to publish a statement issued by the group which planted the grenade.

This was not the first time that media houses or journalists have come under threat in Manipur and this will not be the last either.

Fortunate that the grenade did not explode and one can only imagine the situation if the grenade had indeed exploded.

But is there any guarantee that it will not in the future ? Remember the threat still lingers.

Says something about the mentality of certain elements who come under the impression that whatever they issue should be published and the newspaper houses in Manipur will surely understand the pressure that are mounted everyday by different organisations.

Looking at the issue from a larger perspective, it is not only armed groups but also the numerous organisations which are a dime a dozen here.

The Sangai Express has faced this pressure numerous times earlier and there have been instances in the past when this newspaper had also been banned in certain parts of the State, just because a statement was not published.

This is where the question of how actually free is the media in Manipur gains credence.

While the numerous voluntary organisations in Manipur have been keeping a deafening silence, it is heartening to note that some organisations, based outside the State have come out openly to condemn the act of planting a hand grenade at the residence of the Editor-in-Chief.

The response from the media fraternity in Arunachal Pradesh including the Arunachal Press Club, Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, Arunachal Electronic Media Association, the Press Council of India, the Journalists Forum, Assam and the Editors’ Guild, India is encouraging.

Difficult to say how and when such a culture started spreading in Manipur, but it is significant to note that everyone here is under the impression that whatever is issued to the media should be published.

This is where a thorough overhaul of the mindset of the people is needed.

The media here is not to serve the interest of anyone in particular but to highlight news and incidents which will be of importance to the public.

Why have some come under the impression that even extremely localised matter should get wide publicity through the mass media ?

The media is not the mouthpiece of anyone or any organisation.