Muhammad Hanif Tabassum
In today s fast paced digital era the concept of journalism is undergoing profound and fundamental changes with a smartphone in every hand instant access to social media for people of all ages and live videos of almost every event the flow of information has increased to an unprecedented level However, at the same time the true essence of journalism has become dangerously blurred
A growing trend suggests that anyone who records a video of an accident conflict event or gathering and uploads it on social Media Tools considers themselves a journalist and society to a large extent also begins to accept them as such This perception is not only fundamentally flawed but is also becoming a serious threat to the credibility of information collective awareness and social stability
The reality is that journalism has never been defined by tools A camera does not make someone a journalist nor do microphones DSLRs lighting equipment or modern live stream setups Journalism has always been recognized by responsibility principles and professional standards Cameras and mobile devices are merely tools the real difference lies in the mindset training ethics and editorial discipline behind them.
A true journalist does not merely record an event They understand its background and context gather information from multiple sources verify facts and present them to the public with balance integrity and responsibility Recording a video may take a few moments but journalism is a continuous responsibility involving intellectual effort and ethical accountability.
Across the world there are universally accepted standards and values that form the backbone of journalism While the wording of codes of ethics may vary across countries and institutions their spirit remains largely the same The foremost and most fundamental value is truth and accuracy A piece of news only holds value when it is researched and verified otherwise it becomes nothing more than rumor or propaganda.
A professional journalist never relies on a single unverified source They crosscheck information from multiple sources analyze it critically and if in doubt they wait investigate further and ensure accuracy before publishing Similarly impartiality and balance are indispensable principles A journalist’s role is not to act as an advocate for one side but to present all relevant aspects of an issue fairly giving space to opposing viewpoints including critical perspectives and representing all affected parties.
Another key principle of journalism is accountability and transparency Journalists are not only responsible for holding others accountable but also themselves If a mistake occurs hiding it is against professional integrity A responsible institution acknowledges errors publishes corrections and takes measures to prevent recurrence
Respect for human dignity and privacy is also central to global journalistic ethics Turning someone’s honor, private life or personal grief into sensational content in the name of news is ethically unacceptable In reporting accidents crimes and tragedies special care must be taken to protect the dignity of victims especially children women and vulnerable groups.
In developed democratic countries these standards are not merely theoretical They are enforced through strong editorial systems independent press councils active media regulatory bodies and clear legal frameworks If false news is broadcast institutions may be required to issue apologies face heavy fines legal action and suffer reputational damage This institutional framework helps maintain a relatively high standard of journalism although no system is entirely free from errors
If we examine journalism in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir the situation presents some harsh realities Codes of ethics press club regulations and media laws do exist and institutions for media studies are established However their practical implementation is gradually weakening.
There was a time when journalism was considered a dignified responsible and intellectual profession News would pass through multiple layers of editing newsroom discussions legal scrutiny and strict fact checking before publication Today however, the race for competition ratings and commercial interests has significantly altered the nature of journalism
The rise of electronic media and the explosion of social media have intensified this trend Many organizations now fear that even a slight delay in publishing news will result in losing attention to others on social media This urgency has pushed journalism toward superficiality sensationalism and irresponsibility.
A large number of untrained individuals have entered the field people without formal education in journalism or training in reporting research and ethics With just a press card, a YouTube channel a Facebook page or a few viral videos individuals present themselves as journalists and sometimes even receive protocol and recognition from influential circles This severely damages the overall credibility of the profession
Editorial weaknesses are another major cause of decline In many organizations the roles of news editors sub editors and copy desks have diminished Rigorous review of language legal aspects balance fact checking and ethical standards has weakened resulting in the easy publication of incorrect biased and one sided news Later corrections rarely have the same impact as the original headlines.
Political and financial pressures further complicate the situation Governments political parties and business groups often influence editorial independence through advertisements incentives, and other forms of pressure As a result important news may be downplayed scandals ignored or certain narratives overly highlighted.
Social media has become a double edged sword On one hand it has given ordinary citizens unprecedented freedom of expression On the other it has flooded the information space with unverified incomplete and misleading content Many people now accept tweets posts or viral videos as absolute truth despite the lack of verification or editorial standards behind them.
Professional training in modern skills such as data journalism digital verification online research and media law is limited Weak media regulation ineffective press councils and lack of internal accountability have further deepened the crisis
Despite all this it would be incorrect to say that journalism has completely collapsed In reality it is going through a critical transitional phase If governments institutions and journalistic organizations act responsibly this crisis can become an opportunity for reform
There is a need to seriously adopt international standards ensure proper training and licensing of journalists strengthen editorial systems and promote continuous professional development Most importantly media literacy must be enhanced among the public so that people do not blindly accept every viral piece of content as news but instead question verify sources and compare information.
In any country journalism is often regarded as the “fourth pillar of the state” It not only informs the public but also shapes public opinion promotes transparency and contributes to accountability A free responsible and effective media continuously monitors those in power exposes corruption and injustice and enables public debate on policies and governance.
Without strong journalism societies risk falling into misinformation propaganda and authoritarian tendencies Conversely an independent media system supports democratic values social harmony and national development.
The most essential quality of a professional journalist is impartiality They must rise above personal preferences political affiliations linguistic or religious biases and external pressures A true journalist is not a representative of any group or individual but a bridge between truth and the public
Their duty is to present facts as they are keep opinion separate from news represent all perspectives fairly and resist distortion of information due to hidden agendas financial interests or political pressure This impartiality forms the foundation of public trust the most valuable asset of journalism.
Journalists especially in developing countries face numerous challenges from governments powerful institutions and sometimes nonstate actors Censorship restrictive laws under the pretext of national security religion cybercrime or “fake news” can limit critical reporting Political pressure legal harassment defamation cases and even physical threats such as abduction violence, and in extreme cases are harsh realities These conditions often lead to self censorship
Limited access to official records and policy documents along with ineffective implementation of Right to Information laws further hinders accurate and balanced reporting These challenges not only affect journalists but also undermine the public’s right to information transparency and democratic processes In such an environment journalism becomes more than just a profession it becomes a struggle.
Ultimately journalism is a trust a sacred responsibility It informs society with truth awakens awareness and gives voice to the weak and marginalized while holding the powerful accountable Reducing it to mere video making viral content or a race for followers and ratings is an injustice to its true spirit.
Today when information spreads faster than ever the importance of genuine journalism has increased even more Not everyone with a mobile phone is a journalist and not every viral video is news A journalist is defined not by the tools they hold but by their integrity training ethics and unwavering commitment to truth Preserving this distinction is essential not only for the dignity of journalism but for the survival of an informed aware and stable society If we lose the voice of professional journalism in the noise of mobile cameras and social media the line between truth and rumor research and propaganda may disappear permanently.
And when that line disappears society is left with one critical question how to recognize the truth?To avoid thatvit is imperative to reconnect journalism with its true values dignity and responsibility.
