New Delhi, May 24, 2012 : The interlocutors on Jammu and
Kashmir have criticised the role of the media and journalists
in the state for "inventing events for political game" and
suggested a short-term training to hone their reporting and
writing skills.
"The role of the media, too, has been complex, combining
positive peace support with mistruths that undermine peace
initiatives. Barring a small handful of anchors and reporters,
the national media have underreported conflict areas and tend
to focus on moments of violence or recrimination.
"The local media, by contrast, have given far more
attention to peace process developments but--as occurs
routinely in conflict situations–-there are some amongst them
who are selective in what they report and biased in favour of
one or another political position," the interlocutors' report
made public today said.
The report found "flaws" in the role of a few journalists
who "invented" quotes for their stories which resulted in
"stumbling block" for peacemakers.
Commenting on the role of journalists in the state, it
said "a few even go as far as inventing events and quotes for
stories. To these few, journalism appears to be a political
game rather than the pursuit of fact".
"The negative fallout from this kind of journalism is
that it acts as a brake on peacemakers who wish to move
forward from stated positions, especially amongst the
dissident groups," the interlocutors said.
The 176-page report of the interlocutors--Dileep
Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M M Ansari, which was submitted to
Home Minister P Chidambaram in October last year, recommended
that curbs on Internet and mobile telephone usage need to be
urgently reviewed.
It has suggested newspaper editors in the state be
encouraged to participate in the activities of the Editors
Guild of India and other national and South Asian professional
bodies.
Besides, they should be included in the press teams that
accompany the President and the Prime Minister during their
trips abroad.
"Journalists from the state should be provided short-term
training in institutes of mass communication in order to
improve their reporting and writing skills," it said.
The interlocutors have also sought involvement of bodies
like the Press Council of India or the Editors Guild of India
to look into various allegations by publishers and
governments.
"Publishers have alleged that newspapers that do not toe
the line are denied government advertisements. On the other
hand, the government alleges that certain newspapers publish
unsubstantiated stories and engage in a vilification campaign.
Both these matters need to be investigated by a body like the
Press Council of India or the Editors Guild of India," the
report said.
The report noted allegations have also been made to the
effect that publishing houses inflate their circulation
figures to indulge in malpractices.
"The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) plays no role in
the state. Nor are readership surveys carried out. Both need
to be introduced without delay," the report said.
Besides, the interlocutors said, the sources of funding
of newspapers are also a matter of unhealthy speculation. "A
thorough investigation carried out by the Press Council of
India can alone settle the issue," they added.
The interlocutors found some part of the credibility gap
resulting from the combination of poor communication
strategies, a media that is ignorant or dismissive of the very
real hurdles that obstruct peace processes and a political
climate that seeks to damage rather than construct.
"The wear and tear engendered by this combination of
negativities should not be underestimated. A new
communications strategy needs to be developed, in which peace
process reporting is at the core," it concluded.
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