The unregulated Social media has enabled the rise of unprofessional and unethical self styled ‘journalists’, especially in Kashmir, who are doing more harm than good to the society by triggering mistrust, false information and noise out of half-baked truths, comments Basit Hayat Zargar, a senior BJP leader.
He said, “The trend of self-styled and self-claimed social media journalists has been on rise in Kashmir. Access to Social media has enabled them and empowered them to spread untrue stories in order to gain immediate reputation or financial benefits. We’ve come across such stories in past where such Journalists tried to mislead people on account of an emotionally appealing story. Thankfully, their fraud was caught by the vigilant Kashmir Police, otherwise, they would have scammed more people.”
He further said, “Not everyone is a Journalist in the present scenario. One needs to undergo years of efficient training and leave aside one’s own biases or interests to become a professional journalist. We’ve had so many eminent Journalists from Kashmir who made the Valley proud by their standards and Practice of Journalism. Journalists have had a significant role in the information gathering, presenting and circulating process, but people with vested interests defy the ethics of this very Profession. Unethical journalism has the potential to create disharmony, disrupt peace, create chaos and portray even lies as truths. It is indeed dangerous for any society.”
“Social media platforms are a tool for people to portray their ideas, beliefs and interests but it is a double-edged knife if not used responsibly. Everyone has Right to information and as responsible citizens we’ve a duty to make ourselves aware of our surroundings because mainstream news agencies may not be able to reach every nook and corner of the Country. Today ‘Information-awareness process’ has turned into a competition of publicity and validating the authenticity of any piece of information is near to impossible. The burdening growth of unprofessional and unethical journalists is not only burdening the ‘Ethical journalists’ but also the masses, as they’ve to pick and chose right piece of information among the pile of misinformation!” Zargar opines.
He expressed his concerns over the means adopted by such unethical journalists, “Self-styled social media journalists use irresponsible ways to gain attention, by claiming to be the flag bearers of truths or welfare of people, thereby disturbing the established standards and practice of Journalism. A place like Kashmir cannot afford such deviance because it creates mistrust and misinformation for the otherwise genuine media fraternity, thus bringing a bad name to Journalism in Kashmir.”
He sought the intervention of the professional media fraternity to control the rise of unethical Journalism in Kashmir. He urged the people of Kashmir to authenticate any piece of information they find on social media before believing in the same. Moreover, he requested the Government to regulate this aspect of Social media or regulate the standards and practice of journalism in Kashmir.
