Contemplating the state of journalism in Nagaland today – the overriding tendency to appease or give in to pressure (read fear) – I have no issues in saying we all regularly wet our pants for no good reason other than the journalist (or a pansy-bottomed management) would choose convenience over principle. The notion of Interpreter and Evaluator as intrinsic roles of the media does not exist in the Naga media. So you are merely a "Disseminator."
However, the fact is that the process of evaluation and criticism that the Media is expected to play (role of ‘filterer’ for the society and citizens) is to enable the society to choose and judge. Now, do we wonder the pitiful state of Nagaland today, the people and their social appendages, who swallow without protest whatever muck is fed to them? Agreed, we do apparently play the role of the filterer – filter out all truths and dump the rubbish into the print.
In Nagaland, Journalists work in circumstances that involve, for instance
Stern social arbitration:
The Nagas are a tightly (if stifling) knitted, almost feudal communities where the burden of tradition and tribal allegiance often interfere in the work of Journalists. For instance in criminal cases that involve a member of a tribe and one of another ultimately guarantees that there would be a friction of some nature between the two tribes - each tribe would jump in the fray to vouch for its member. This tribal inclination have often even led to manipulation of established, legal justice systems.
Political instability
Journalists in Nagaland are probably one of the most stressed Media communities in India. They work in a State where "news" is apparently entirely synonymous with political conflict - specifically the more than 50 years of armed struggle of Naga underground organizations against the Government of India. Further, the fact that there are multiple armed Naga organizations engaging in hostilities with the next group makes the task of Naga Journalists an even more touchy affair. In fact the condition of Journalism in Nagaland is to the extent that the the armed organizations even go as far as to "request" Editors which page to carry a press statement and then, when!
Economic constraints
Simply put, Journalism in Nagaland is as far as your salary goes. Thankfully, things somewhat brighter since the Center's Wages Labor Board stipulated wages for working Journalists in India. Till a few years ago, the Naga Journalist was being remunerated in the proverbial peanuts. Long, stressful working hours in stressful and often violent situations, their remuneration could only be called anything but even decent. Notwithstanding the lofty standing of principles and vision for society, one still has have to eat. The wallet department is one of the reasons Naga Journalists have had to wait for higher inspiration to intervene.
Those were just few instances of what Journalists Nagaland go through. However, things are looking up with the government's Wages Board's recommendations to hike incentives and remuneration of professionals working with Media organizations in the State.
In Nagaland, Journalists work in circumstances that involve, for instance
Stern social arbitration:
The Nagas are a tightly (if stifling) knitted, almost feudal communities where the burden of tradition and tribal allegiance often interfere in the work of Journalists. For instance in criminal cases that involve a member of a tribe and one of another ultimately guarantees that there would be a friction of some nature between the two tribes - each tribe would jump in the fray to vouch for its member. This tribal inclination have often even led to manipulation of established, legal justice systems.
Political instability
Journalists in Nagaland are probably one of the most stressed Media communities in India. They work in a State where "news" is apparently entirely synonymous with political conflict - specifically the more than 50 years of armed struggle of Naga underground organizations against the Government of India. Further, the fact that there are multiple armed Naga organizations engaging in hostilities with the next group makes the task of Naga Journalists an even more touchy affair. In fact the condition of Journalism in Nagaland is to the extent that the the armed organizations even go as far as to "request" Editors which page to carry a press statement and then, when!
Economic constraints
Simply put, Journalism in Nagaland is as far as your salary goes. Thankfully, things somewhat brighter since the Center's Wages Labor Board stipulated wages for working Journalists in India. Till a few years ago, the Naga Journalist was being remunerated in the proverbial peanuts. Long, stressful working hours in stressful and often violent situations, their remuneration could only be called anything but even decent. Notwithstanding the lofty standing of principles and vision for society, one still has have to eat. The wallet department is one of the reasons Naga Journalists have had to wait for higher inspiration to intervene.
Those were just few instances of what Journalists Nagaland go through. However, things are looking up with the government's Wages Board's recommendations to hike incentives and remuneration of professionals working with Media organizations in the State.
would love to know more about Naga Journalism
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