Refat Wani
Like many other days, world press day is also celebrated throughout the globe on 3rd of May every year in order to acknowledge and felicitate the hard work of the press reporters of the world. Coincidentally, May is the month to be celebrated as mental health awareness month as well. So, in order to co-relate mental health and the role of the press it is mandatory to mention that the press is a very powerful forum and so are the press reporters. Any media platform be that social or electronic holds a very profound prominence in directing the social mindset. They are the voice of the voiceless and a vision of the wise. But nowadays we see everyday negativity being spread by self-proclaimed journalists. For just some Views, TRP or fame they make mountains out of mole hill. Which has turned out to be a big reason for the rise in mental health issues. Almost 99% of the population of Kashmir is suffering from anxiety disorders which besides many other reasons is prevalent due to the fake, exaggerated and negative news that is spread like a wild fire by media platforms anytime.
The press of any region upholds very huge responsibilities unto its shoulders. Be it a grievance, mass awareness or conflict, the press has always played the important part. Even the media has a big hand in facilitating philanthropy; many people have got cure to the deadly diseases, many have got their homes built and many people/animals have been rescued from the horror or trauma. This all has happened because the media has highlighted their problems and raised funds for them. Simply defining the press is like eyes to see and hands to work for any country, state, village or Mohalla.
Simultaneously, social and electronic media has a social, ethical, and moral responsibility towards honest duties for the welfare of the people. We see nowadays a large number of youths attracted to social work and journalism. They are choosing it as a career. But being taken by every Tom, Dick and Harry is irksome and can turn more horrible in future. Knowing not an ABC about the field one turns up with a smartphone and a microphone to show up as a journalist has turned terrible and is demeaning the aura and values of journalism. Like, a certified carpenter cannot be a tailor and vice versa and an MBBS doctor can not be an engineer, a common man can also not be a journalist. Because every field needs to be specifically studied and passed phase by phase. An engineer can be a better architect not a doctor similarly a mass media learned person can be a journalist not a surgeon or pilot. Having journalism mixed with un professional and non-journalism background people has got millions of fingers pointed against journalism. People have lost trust in journalism and they do not hope for true journalism as well. To retrieve its ethics and prominence the media stakeholders must scrutinize its representatives on ground and must not make journalism open to all to devalue their degrees and hard work. There must be due certification or degree required to become a journalist and it must be brought into forth to save journalism from jeopardizing.
To me the elucidated form of PRESS is Public Representative of Environment and Social System to maintain which journalism stakeholders have to come forth with constructive regulations and. rescue it from drowning.
World Press Freedom Day is celebrated on May 03 every year to emphasize the importance of press freedom and its role in society. While digital technologies and independent media have enabled the unrestricted dissemination of information, threats still persist, leading to consequences for basic human rights. The press urges the need for an independent media to safeguard democracy. With the growth of digital media, the flow of misinformation has increased, prompting a more significant role of the press. The theme of the 30th World Press Freedom Day 2023 is “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all other human rights.
This day serves as an opportunity to address the global issues concerning the media including their freedom and accessibility, and knowledge of the contribution of journalists who lost their lives in this profession. The press is a critical component of the democratic setup of a country, it highlights and advocates the importance and democracy.
World Press Freedom Day marks the 30th anniversary of this day. It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993 after the recommendation of UNESCO’s General conference as World press Freedom Day.
With the expansion of digital media, the flow of misinformation has raised new challenges. The role of the press becomes more significant day by day. The press serves as a medium of information through which the general public gets access to facts that help them make informed decisions about their lives and the government.
Since Media is a fourth pillar of democracy hence it holds a pivotal significance and so on this World Press Freedom Day the journalists deserve a tribute for their restless services as observers of the democracy. Indeed Free and independent media is a necessity of democracy.
In conclusion I would like to pay my respectful and heartfelt tribute to all the real journalists and their valor for being on forefront to perform their duties. Kudos!
– The writer is a philanthropist. She can be reached at Refatsocialwork.gearr@gmail.com