Introduction
of Public Journalism
Public journalism known as civil journalism is the
idea of integrating journalism into the democratic process. The media not only
informs the public, but it also works towards engaging citizens and creating
public debate. Public journalism was not born on a university campus. It
started as an experiment at a newspaper, which led to a similar experiment at
another newspaper, and it simply caught on- without a manifesto, without any
list of principles, with nary a mission statement (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/)
Public journalism is a 'work in progress' whose
meaning is continually negotiated and revised by the journalists doing it.
Public journalism theory, we need a conception of an
overarching public sphere in order to have a relevant discussion about the
possibilities and limitations of public journalism to bring forth diversity of
citizen opinions from sub-publics into the public sphere, and ultimately have
an impact on the policy making processes. (http://www.ec.ubi.pt/,
15 July 2015)
In the 1920s,
before the notion of public journalism was developed, there was the famous
debate between Walter Lippmann and John Dewey over the role of journalism in a
democracy. Lippmann viewed the role of the journalist to be simply recording
what policy makers say and then providing that information to the public. In
opposition to this, Dewey defined the journalist's role as being more engaged
with the public and critically examining information given by the government.
He thought journalists should weigh the consequences of the policies being
enacted. Dewey believed conversation, debate, and dialogue were what democracy
was all about and that journalism has an important piece of that conversation.
Public
Journalism during earthquake
“It is said during crisis, every
individual is army without uniform. Similarly, every individual is journalist
without identity card”. People themselves were contacting media house and were
reporting what had happened in their place. During this crisis, it was
impossible for media and reporter to reach every corner. Nepali media was also
highly affected by April 25 earthquake. Media is not only the mirror of the
society. It is also the molders of the society. It has capacity to guide shape
& resize the society. Of course the role played by media during this period
is justifiable. It was media who marked the place and people who are in problems,
who are in need. It was media who keeps on alerting the government and the
stake holder for rescue and relief. But the worse part of media is it only
portrayed problems, destructions and challenges but was not giving way out
& solution. Media could not bring CDO, secretary, center member, VDC and
municipality member in front line. It could not work as the bridge between
people & regulatory bodies. Only one way flow message of people was there
but not the response to the problems and message of them. Media as being forth
estate of the nation should also have the answer for what next? As one of the
important pillar of the nation media should respect the public opinion. Public
opinion is possible only by discussion and public participation. Media during
crisis was seen as a question package and people were seen as an answer
package. Therefore they only had question and answer relationship. Dialogue and
discussion are for bridging differences, for which impartial media play a vital
role.
Potter and Ricchiardi (2009, p.8),
for journalists a disaster is the kind of a breaking news story that merits
extensive coverage. Disaster in any country has a huge coverage in media. After
the earthquake of 8.7 magnitude of Nepal, how the media exercise is the area of
study? Media being an essential part of society, it has very important role in
awearing, informing and alerting people during disaster, right information at right time has great value. People also
felt the need of media & information after finding safe place during
earthquake. Potter and Ricchiardi (2009,) cite Michael Marcotte, as stating
that a news organization plays four key roles during a crisis. It’s a vital
information resource, telling what is happening where, who is affected, how
things are changing, and why. It is a communication lifeline, saving lives by
relaying critical information to and from affected parties. It’s an early
warning beacon, transmitting timely, reliable information that prevents harm.
And it’s a community forum, giving citizens a way to come together, share
concerns and support one another during difficult times.
Through the
eyes of P. Kharel he saw “Media & journalist worked hard during the crisis
period but the lack of media knowledge, lack of media skill and weak political
leadership, media could not be as effective as it has to be. Our media house
lacks the sensitivity that should be followed during the disaster. Similarly
some of the stories and issues of the media regarding relief work was just for
fame and popularity.
In-depth
and follow-up story:
In disaster period
Nepali journalist tries to go to the victim area and victim people. They were
reporting from many perspective and different angles. Many stories were meaningful
for victims. They reported women, children and weak people’s issues. Those
types of stories were very powerful and support to government and local body. They
find out problem and involved in rescue. Media find out the discrimination in distribution
of food and other material to the poor and voiceless people. Government and
other donner agencies quickly correct their mistakes. But our media did not
follow their stories in depth manner. One day they report one issue and another
day they forget the follow up that issue. Media arouse the correct issue, but
they couldn't give deeply and couldn't do follow up.
Journalists have gone
to victim people, and they were reporting their problems but they cannot ask
government local body. At that time report come by one sides; that was also the
media weakness. During National disaster
period biasness in relief distribution, corruption etc were found in everywhere.
In that critical period public journalism is most important for Nation and
media house. At that time Media some duty could complete, but some is couldn't
arouse.
During disaster,
in-depth and follow of story has great importance. Such period is different
than the general reporting. But, the Nepali media in some level couldn't
complete this.
Sensitivity:
Media is not only mirror of the society but
also molder of the society. It is an advocating institution for people. In
critical situation, first of all people search secure place after that they
need food and then they search for information. Media must understand the
sensitivity of news and issues. Media were talking with earthquake affected
people, wounded peoples in the hospital bed. It is not good to report the pain
in media and victimize the victim. Media should understand the sensitivity and
the feelings of the society; otherwise they need to face the criticism like
Indian media. Like democracy media is for the people by the people and of the
people. If media remains away from the people then it cannot function well in
the society.
Conclusion
The overall role of media has seen
very powerful. As public sphere, voice of the voice less, marginalized and
backward, community & geography was given space. Media was trying to be
inclusive for them, which is positive aspect. Due to the lack of dialogue and
discussion neither the state could make systematic relief program nor could the
media address the issue. Nepali media practiced good journalism during the
earthquake. But some of the question remains incomplete. How the journalist
deals with the victim? Did they find the
authorities to address the problem of the people? How they talk with them? What
kind of issue they focused on? Or they were busy in collecting funds only? And
did they work as the soothing bam of the society’s wounds? Did they work as the
healer of the society? Did they publish and broadcast positive, empowering,
boost up stories or they only published or broadcast negative and painful
stories and create only frustration among the people? These questions will help
us to know how the public journalism was practiced in Nepal during the
devastation. Media work hard in during hard time. Media was much demanded thing
like food, water. Journalists were collecting the information even challenging
to the death. Media person were working day and nights even forgetting their
families, home and relatives. But we don’t have any preparedness mechanism for
and during disaster. Similarly most of the media were city centric. They did
not make any effort to go out of the city and cover local stories. For this
purpose, they could use local reporters, stringers and correspondence but they
don’t mobilize them. Though few things
lack, they had done their best to respect the public feelings, sentiment and
the public opinion.
Reference
Kharel, p.( 2012). "Media for participatory
Democracy". Supravahaprakashan: Kathmandu, Nepal
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