When Journalism Becomes Judgment

When tragedy strikes, media coverage can unite a nation, or deepen its divides. Kashmir’s recent tragedy reveals how social media disrupted the one-sided story and restored a fuller truth.

- Seema Sangra

The power of media lies in its ability to shape public perception, all the more during the crisis. It has the power to intensify the situation during any crisis, mitigate its impact, or distort the truth.

In times of crisis, the risks of misinformation and manipulated narratives grow significantly, making the threat of information disorder more severe. Consequently, the need to prevent and combat such disorder becomes increasingly urgent.

Media's responsibility grows multifold during such times, and it must empower its citizens to think critically and behave mindfully by providing access to multiple perspectives, and positive stories. Media must check the tone of its reporting and restrain from any angle that can instigate unrest.

As a journalism student, we were taught that media must uphold their independence and prioritise the public interest, as they play a vital role in fostering social cohesion, integrating diverse communities, and serving as an inclusive platform for pluralistic debate.

Unfortunately with the emergence of private players, breaking news culture, consistent need to stay ahead from each other, desire for high TRPs, lack of monitoring of ethical journalistic practices, and the wrong precedent set by some of successful journalists and TV anchors have created a culture that is turning the reporting, mostly biased and presents a single story.

During the TV panel discussions, a staple of our modern media landscape, the anchor's role become significant. The anchor's responsibility is to ensure a balanced debate, presenting diverse viewpoints, keeping discussions on track, and verifying facts to prevent misinformation.