The Indian Constitution under Article 19 states that “all the citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression.” I wonder even after being stated in the Constitution why it is not practiced by our society?
Journalism is a career where you work to seek the truth. At times, what you get in return is death and that too a painful one. The journalists who pursue hardcore journalism are at risk of death every moment.
Unbiased journalism is under threat from some of the political parties and their goons. Violence against journalists has been increasing over the years, especially for investigative journalists and reporters.
Recently, we all must have come across the news of a Saudi journalist gone missing, a Bulgarian journalist being raped and killed and an Indian journalist being shot dead. There are many more cases that you might have come across; some cases were filed that made into the headlines and some are yet to be resolved or filed I guess. About 75 journalists have been killed in India.
“Journalism in India is in crisis.” – Senior Journalist Pankaj Pachauri
Journalism has long been a lethal profession in India’s border provinces, such as Kashmir. Journalists in the heart of India have also started getting targeted by vigilante groups, assorted ideological thugs and criminals. This week, India was ranked 138 out of 180 countries in the 2018 Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, a few ranks above Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. The deaths of the reporters and journalists have underlined India’s status as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist, particularly in languages other than English and outside of metro cities.
“Being a journalism student, I see journalism turning into one of the most dangerous professions with each passing day.” – A journalism student.
Those studying journalism are now in a dilemma as to whether they should continue with the course or not. Many students also withdrew from the courses, after the incidents of violence against journalists started increasing.