A journalist speaks the words of the society, thus we can see the world through his words. An experienced journalist in the field can answer several questions which the society has got in their mind.
Interview with Ribin Raju (Reporter, Mathrubhumi News)
- Do you believe that media can play a huge role from preventing human rights violation?
Definitely! Media plays a major role in protecting human rights. Media is the tongue of the suppressed. For example during this Covid period, lack of PPE kit faced by the medical workers and nurses was brought out by the media and sufficient measures are now adopted by the government.
- What is your opinion about the ‘Trial by Media’ practice?
When a crime happens the culprit will be tried by the court, but before that it is the duty of the journalist to bring out the news to the public. Media has got trust on the investigating team and thus what they reveal to the media turns out to be the fact before the court trial. It is important that media should use their logical sense before concluding a person guilty. The practice of media framing a person guilty before the court verdict is something to be stopped as people will lose the trust on media.
- How much importance does an editor give to human rights story?
The editor gives real importance to a human rights story as we are the voice of the people. When the government uses its power to suppress a mob for their genuine rights, media will always be with them. Human rights is not something to be suppressed. The Maradu Flat issue in Kerala can be considered as a genuine example. The voice of the people for their safety nearby the flat was heard through the media.
- If you should write one ethical rule to be implemented in media ethics what would it be?
Consider a situation where an accident has taken place. The reporting process done by the media or a journalist should be such a way that it should not disturb or create any obstacle for the rescue team. Rescue of the bruised is important than creating a story. Media covering should never cost the life of others.
- What is your opinion about capital punishment which is long debated in our nation?
I believe that capital punishment would serve well for a heinous crime.
- Is it the monopoly of politics or crime that is affecting human rights?
If we are having a genuine and a strong law system, human rights won’t be affected.
- How do you see the freedom of press in our nation? Do you think that suppression of the press is taking place in our country?
We can witness death of journalists in various part of our nation. Some people do adopt the habit of tampering the reputation or executing the ones who don’t go according to their norms. Along with freedom of the press, we can witness an attempt of corrupting and bribing journalists and tampering the ethics.
- Is journalism losing its ethics and turning out to be a business?
This practice is seen in some places. If someone is doing a righteous business then the firm won’t lose its ethics. In technologically advanced world, news cannot be suppressed or hidden for a long time according to the whims of an individual. We are living in an era of smartphones where each and every one is equipped with it. We are witnessing an era of citizen journalism, where a breaking news can even come from a normal citizen through his smartphone and not necessarily from a publication house or broadcast media.
The words of a journalist can be the words of the media. There are various questions which as a normal citizen, we seek answers. But, we still haven’t lost the trust on media, as they are the voice of the world.
THE ENTITLED RIGHTS 