State of the fourth estate in Manipur : Always room for improvement
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: July 08 2015 -
Ample room for improvement. Like in any other profession, journalism in Manipur too has a lot of room for improvement.
Herein arises the question of whether the media, or more particularly the newspaper houses, in Manipur have been able to attract the best minds available.
There may be different takes on this for it stands that no two newspaper houses apply the same or similar yardstick to hire a budding journalist.
What however cannot be denied is the fact that journalism in Manipur has seen a sea change from the yesteryears.
It has definitely moved from that time when an Editor would double up as the reporter, the sub-editor, the publisher and at times even as the man operating the printing machine.
Those were the days when Manipur relied on obsolete technology and newspapers here had to be printed on the cylinder machines.
Even carrying a picture or a photograph then needed something extra with the newspaper houses having had to depend on the block makers.
However in the last 20 years or so, Manipur has seen huge changes and out went the cylinder machines and in came the modern day technology.
The multi-coloured, multi-paged daily newspaper that the readers get to read with their morning cuppa did not come about over night for there were other technical improvements from the days when the cylinder machines went out to be replaced by the off set machines to the present day technology.
Sheets of papers are no longer used in most of the newspaper houses with reporters and sub-editors filing their report directly on the computers.
As stated earlier, these changes did not come over night but were gradual improvements.
The change or rather improvement on the technology front has been impressive and herein arises the question of whether there has been a reciprocal improvement in the quality of the journalists.
And this is where the import of the question whether journalism or the newspaper houses have been able to attract the best minds or not lies.
Former Director of Medical Directorate, Government of Manipur, Dr Th Suresh is obviously under the impression that the media in Manipur still has a lot to learn.
The good doctor underlined his point quoting examples and furnishing instances where the media or newspaper houses fell short of flashing important news to the public.
Dr Suresh has a point, no doubt about it and this is something which all senior journalists and Editors should take note of.
On the other hand, it would also do well for everyone to give some thoughts on the conditions under which media professionals have had to work all these years.
Certainly makes no sense to pull up all those in this profession while at the same time not sparing a thought under the circumstances they have had to work.
Professional hazards, one may call it, but certainly media persons can do much better without all the pressure exerted by different power players.
Why have so many organisations come under the impression that whatever they issue should be published ?
Moreover why have so many groups come under the belief that their statement should always be published on the first page ?
No doubt the media or the newspaper houses still have a long way to go, but it is also equally important that the different power players stop interfering.
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