People get to know the world through the eyes of journalists. But, it looks unfair when violence takes its turn towards them, who are bound to inform the world. Press freedom is going through a difficult period in India with the harassment of journalists by cases and threats continues. A report-Silencing Journalists in India, released today, reported that from 2000 to 2018, 65 journalists were killed in line service. Journalism has always been a demanding calling in India. The nation’s diversity, complicated political dynamics and visible caste disparities and class poses a challenge for journalists at all levels. Given the constitutionally guaranteed right to free expression, Media threats are rife, ranging from murders and physical assaults to Facebook stalking, bullying and slapping of wrong cases as a method of harassment. It is to be noted that there has only been an increase in the number of journalists killed on duty as the years go on. It is the State’s responsibility to create a safe atmosphere in which journalists should perform their professional duties without fear or bias investigation. Journalists’ attacks and threats prevents impartial research by journalists, and can foster self-censorship.
Even as journalists continue to prepare themselves and know their civil rights and their police policies, a network counsel to effectively represent those whose rights are infringed must build from the grass roots, gradually. The media industry and the legal system must fight the increasing intolerance and growing space for political dissent and freedom of expression and of speech. Journalism is not a profession or a career, but a responsibility with ethics in order to serve. Even though journalists are entitled with lots of privileges, they all turn out to be vague when state and political pressure is used on them. A journalist is a true messenger which at times speak for the suppressed. Silencing the messenger will turn out to be silencing the world.
THE ENTITLED RIGHTS 