The Photo Stories are powerful : Our city or Our Disgrace

Gautam Sharma *

Our city or Our Disgrace :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

THANKS to the messenger of the masses, for kindling newly a spirit of the vanishing branch of journalism called 'citizen journalism', which has been missing in the pages of many of today's papers.

'Our City or Our Disgrace', it really speaks an ultimate language of journalism, the picture speaks more than a thousand words of the trending tongues of our people, it captures and narrates the unsaid symptoms for an early diagnosis of undiscovered issues.

Finally, the Peepal/Pipal tree has been removed and the disgrace-able spot cleaned and no one would be relieving again conveniently on the wall fencing of IMC. Is it not an impact of the picture contributed by a citizen?

Methinks 'Our city or Our Disgrace' is unfolding a new chapter of participatory photo-journalism. The stories depicted by the pictures are more powerful than written words, it has led to moves beyond giving messages and change has become indispensable. For more change….Keep going, keep shinning with 'Our city or Our Disgrace'. Jai! Citizen Journalism, Yaipharey!

Today 'Participatory Approach' is the latest buzz inside the globe, in the sphere of governance, developments, educations, and what is left to include, Guys? (Please don't hesitate to include.) And, in the sphere of journalism, it is also as much important as what we perceived to be the 'first thing first'.

As, citizen's participation in journalism will open the curtains to show a picture on unfolding philosophy about the place of journalism in public life. It will introduce a new good hyphen that can be put in between 'News media and Citizen' that could ultimately bridge whatever the invisible gaps in between 'News media-Citizens'.

Today, the current political situation and social's fluxes has demanded inclusiveness in journalism, as delivery of news to the doorsteps or unloading lots of facts may be enough in fulfilling the obligation of journalists or a newspapers towards society. Methinks, it's a high time, to move beyond the traditional obligation and to develop an innovative way of drawing a reluctant citizen in public life that could strive to add another layer of accountability and a mechanism for retaining the media's watchdog functions.

The participatory journalism will call an attention to the neglected roles of journalist in delivering the democratic procedures. It will rebuild and fortify the social framework by sharing their joy or grief; their despair or triumph, through pictures or words that are being unfounded by the journo fraternity.

Let the people tell their own stories through signs or symbols; or pictures or words, it will reduce the reported speech in the news media reporting system, it will reconnect with real concern that viewers and readers have about things in their life that they care most --- in a way that treats citizens with self-governance, rather as a consumer to whom goods and service are sold.

What's there in our today's papers? Our daily surveillances ends with a morning blues that tells about "Who said what, where, when, how and why?" Something new is required that's participatory journalism. Let the people also participate in your journalism.

Library sources said, whatever it is, civic, citizen or, participatory journalism is not a settled doctrine or a strict code conduct of journalism but an unfolding philosophy about the place of journalism in public life, or reinventing journalism to suit the contemporary political, social, cultural demands.

It starts its process when news media organization welcomes the public to share their responsibility and when journalist are not afraid to get involved with the community ---- in listening, in helping identify their issue faced, analyzing barriers to address those issue.

If the concept of old journalism is not working, or if it's becoming mundane, then let's reinvent it. Hope, it won't be harmful at all.

Newsperson: Due to hyper-participation and quality maintenance of the disposable comfort-stations placed inside the premise of current Sangai fest, many doors lock of the said 'comfort station' are in a condemnable or a non-workable condition, local tourist informed.

Thai National stall owners, of both sex, lamented that they need a companion or a partner to wait outside the 'comfort station' while for No.1 and No. 2 breaks because of the said locks problem.

Tagline: "I Can't but We Can, Together We Can Grace Our City"