The Information Department deserves kudos for waking up to impersonation, blackmail, and extortion by people posing as journalists. A cursory study of these random journalists, who mostly camp on roads and pavements at the press enclave, reveals that most of them are operating pages on Facebook. They have fancy names and post videos and happenings on their pages. Unabashed and uncouth, most of these journos are semi-literate small-time go-between who try to earn quick bucks using journalism as a stepping stone. In their dictionary, a qualification for a journalist is owning a smartphone and a ramshackle gun mike bought from a flea market. For them, a degree in mass communication and journalism is not required. Their language is pedestrian and their behavior is ruffian. They throw all journalistic and legal dos and don’ts to the wind. Yet they get away with everything because they have millions of followers on FB. If number of followers is the criterion, then most hated people on this earth will be the kings and queens. Thanks to the Information Department for realizing this growing menace in society. The department has directed District Information Officers to exercise heightened vigilance to combat this menace. The department has come up with dos and don’ts for officers and the media organization. DIOs have been asked to immediately report any person or entity misusing media credentials, indulging in coercion, or attempting to malign officials or institutions or private individuals for personal or financial gain. They have been asked to coordinate closely with the concerned deputy commissioner and police authorities wherever such instances are reported, for coordinated legal and administrative action. DIOs have been asked to advise all district-level offices and departments within the district to verify credentials before allowing access or sharing information or hospitality with any person claiming to represent a media outlet. The highlight of the directive is that DIOs have been asked to sensitize local media houses and advise editors in their respective districts to exercise due diligence and engage only qualified, credible, and verified correspondents, ensuring issuance of proper verifiable authorization letters and ID cards. Information Department’s move is really praiseworthy, given the rot in journalism. The government should pursue it vigorously and save society from these self–styled journalists. A basic qualification should be set for a person to be a reporter. He or she should be vetted by the police and the information department before being engaged. A verification drive should be launched to identify the genuine and fake journalists. Cases should be registered against those who have used this profession for personal interests. The government should also frame a law to prosecute the black sheep on a fast-track basis. It is high time the government takes proactive measures to nip the evil in the bud.
Welldone
