Ensure safety of the Fourth Estate

Press safety continues to be an area of concern in India highlighted once again by the unfortunate killing of independent journalist Mukesh Chandrakar

- SHUTAPA PAUL

Here's an untold secret of mainstream journalism – much of the compelling ground reports that shock and awe the audience happen due to the tenacity of local reporters or as they are called, "stringers". These freelancers are independent journalists who liaison between the behemoth media house reporter and the news story. They have all the insights, tips, leads, as well as knowhow to traverse tricky terrain and unsafe ground. More often than not, it's these free agents, with a grip over hyperlocal happenings, who actually "break" a story. The credit, however, is taken by the media house and its well-paid, swashbuckling journalistic representative. Mukesh Chandrakar, from Bastar, was one such independent journalist; his life tragically cut short while doing his job.

The advent of the digital age came as a boon to journalists such as Mukesh. They could run their own YouTube channels highlighting issues that were of import. In spite of casual dramatics, several of these YouTube news channels feature impactful news stories, many that would never make it to a mainstream news channel. Between advertisements, celebrity anchor-driven shouting fests, and national news, is there ever air-time for issues that affect the common man?

As the ever-increasing tussle plays out between editorial and marketing departments for publishing space, independent media has emerged as a breath of fresh air. And while many of these journalists may be missing the finesse of trained professionals, they rarely omit out on journalistic ethics and tenets of reporting.