Conventional Journalism under attack?

A fellow blogger picked up this story from TimesOfIndia. He analysed the writer’s criticism towards bloggers(most of them) around the world, who according to him, are people with biased and stolen opinions about anything and everything. Thankfully, he did praise 4-5 noted bloggers in the end. The original blog is here.

Clearly the writer is upset. His point is correct about a lot of non-sense stuff on blogosphere which is harmful to the society. Sadly, in his criticism, he included millions of those who have nothing to do with bad stuff but are just trying to put their thoughts about something which is worth “their” time. Yes he is worried about blogs from a “Killer” but these things have been existing for years now. Earlier it used to be on anonymous websites, emails, chat rooms etc and now its on everybody’s(whoever is interested) RSS reader.

The way Mr. Saxena criticises everybody (all poor souls writing blogs and are not journalists) does reflect the frustration that a common journalist is confronting with. The frustration stems from the fact that people are no more relying on conventional journalism (Newspaper, TV News) and are happy with sharing common ideas and views with other people on the web through blogs and other tools like bookmarking. This is bound to happen when people have no time to read newspapers in the morning, TV news is full of c***(In my opinion), extinction of local tea stall gossips or 8:30 local from point A to point B and Internet’s attack on our lives. Internet is so overwhelming in the amount of information that people just cannot live in “consume only” mode. They have to pass on the information. Blogging is just a medium of getting that done and also making one visible by millions around the globe. Its just so tempting. This has also to do with humans being social animals. They like to be with in groups, sharing ideas, information, feedback, collaboration. All this has been translated to blogging, sharing, tagging in Internet world! This is the case with people who just write blogs and have nothing to do with journalism. I don’t think they are even related.

For degree holders (in journalism) also, blogging is a tool to be free from constraints of main stream writing. They no longer need to get their stuff proof read by anybody. And there are a lot of people doing that too. I think the writer here feels ignored. He cannot digest the fact that News, analysis, journalism are no longer confined to the boundaries of newspapers and TV. He is also not happy about people getting paid huge bucks for blogging. Let me ask, what is the harm? If people are coming back to one’s blogs or website, that means there is something relevant there. Rest earn from adds. If google wants to make money through the adds, whats the harm in paying to the blog owners. Then he must criticise Google or Yahoo too. If wordpress was owned by the writer, he would have asked all of us for a degree in journalism

I think there are zillions of ways to make this phenomenon work for us and for our country. Personally, I get lot of information from silly blogs also because they are funny and I get to know so much about people from around the world. People just put photos of their kids for example. There is no harm if I stumble upon such a blog. I don’t compare the bloggers to journalists. I do feel that main stream journalism will have to change a little. It has to embrace new tools of collaboration, sharing and publishing information. No doubt, professional journalists will have have an edge over part timers and continue to help society in difficult times like war or natural disasters. For now lets just sit back and enjoy this great phenomena of Internet. Its just like inventions of Aircraft, TV or satellites for our forefathers!

Time to prove

A lot of things were written about sad story of Mumbai blasts which rocked the lifeline of 16 million people – its local rail network. I read almost all the big stories on popular websites, e-paper and on television. Common man was shocked and grieved over the sufferings of those who died and also those who lost their arms and legs. There was rage about the repeated act of mindless killings in the financial hub of India and also fear of communal tension. To cut the long story short, there were too many things to think about and analyse. Still, there is one section of our population, busy thinking about gains out of pain and agony. Yes they are our politicians.

Right after the attacks a prominant politician and his subordinate gave a clean chit to SIMI, an organisation having notorious links with Lashkar-e-Tayyiba; a big terror organisation based in pakistan. So much was the public outrage against the statement that next day the same politician openly denied what he said in front of press. Opposition is playing a blame game with ruling party. Government wants a scape goat quickly to put the blame on and save its face.

Actually people of India have had enough of this in the past and are tired of our politicians who have time and again failed to provide security to our citizens. They enjoy VIP security cover and hence unaware of the fear people have today. A major man hunt has started and will carry on for some time. Police will find few people and kill few to seek success in the case and government will be relieved of a major burden. There will be a case in the court of law, which will go on for years and the culprits will enjoy safe heaven in our jails and who knows, one day there will be a highjack to get them out. Govt. won’t have any option but to sit and watch.

Actually people are right, our state has become soft and are too tolerable. We don’t know how to punish people who are against our great nation. Our country’s leadership lacks command and courage. They don’t know how to lead a nation in crisis and come out of it, victorious. It lacks both vision and courage. We have come to that stage when the biggest democracy in the world chooses an incompetant govt. by spending billions from its own tax money and what do they get….death, amputated legs, arms and what not.

Its high time politicians show their worth. There are more than a billion ways. Our politicians should do something to win the faith of people of india. If it has to happen, it has to happen now. All politicians need is commitment for short term and long term goals. So often we have seen that good initiatives die soon after change in government. There is a need for partnership between citizens and people who are holding office of power. Its high time we get basics of democracy correct. There is only one thing which is going to come out of it – stronger India.

What we should do? First my appeal to the citizens. Please be more vigilant and caring about others. We need to be clear that we have to first fight enemy within our own country. For this we need unity. Every locality, building, society should meet once in a while to discuss about security in area. If there is suspicious activity then report to police. Local political leaders should assess the security situation in their areas every now and then. Co-ordination is must. Channel some money in becoming hi-tech. CCTV, metal detectors, volunteers to help vigilance. Then comes the initiatives at the national level. A clear cut policy and master plan for national security and civil defense. Mobilize the resources to gather intelligence about terror network. Work towards choking their life lines like money which comes through hawala, foreign aid etc. Have a close eye on the activities of banned organizations like SIMI. Generally these organizations dissolve after crack down but start somewhere else by changing names and leadership. Their activities remain same. Take strict actions against them. Don’t worry about human rights and all that. Again use of high technology is important. We should design trains and buses in such a way that it is difficult to plant bombs. I think cameras can be installed in buses and trains. Strengthen security at railway stations and bus stands. Tell pakistan NO BUSES, NO TRAINS, NO TRADE with them. Strengthen Diplomatic efforts. Somehow we have not been able to make pakistanis struggle on table. At least its not very evident.

Last but not the least, we need to solve our internal issues soon. People from outside, always tell us that this is home grown terrorism and nothing to do with them. There has been a significant increase in commitment from both Pakistan and India to solve kashmir issue. Lets not depend on pakistan. I don’t beleive that India cannot solve the issue on its own. Talk to people who are not happy. We have to focus on north-east also. Lets finish our pending issues once for all and then take on the enemy with our full force. Long live India. Jay Hind.