Journalism is different from PR
LS Speaker must realise that varnishing facts helps no one
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday had some words of advice for those who earn their livelihood by writing. Asking journalists to use “beautiful language,” Ms Mahajan said we — journalists — should sometimes avoid telling the unpleasant truth. Speaking at a function organised by RSS-affiliated Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra, she also supported statements asking journalists to report news in the national interest. Ms Mahajan said journalists can learn a lot from the mythical character Narad Muni when it comes to objectivity: “… Whatever is said should be said in beautiful language. A lot can be communicated to the government using such [polite] language. Satyam Bruyat Priyam Bruyat, Na Bruyat Apriyam Satyam [Tell the truth. Tell nice things. Do not tell unpleasant truth] — this is also required sometimes.”
By saying that journalists should try to avoid unpleasant truths, what does Ms Mahajan mean? Should we varnish information and dress it up for the public, which incidentally is paying to get authentic news? Does this mean that we don’t talk about the shortcomings of government programmes and like good stenographers take down whatever figures are given to us? And can beautiful language hide difficult truths? If the Speaker thinks that such journalism helps the government in power, she is wrong. No government can benefit from dressing uncomfortable facts in pleasant language or indeed not bringing them to public attention at all. In fact, Ms Mahajan is discounting the intelligence of citizens/voters if she thinks only good news from the media can shore up a party’s prospects in an election.
A person who has such a wishlist list for journalists obviously cannot be an admirer of someone like George Orwell. Yet, here’s what he said about the profession: “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.” It’s time Ms Mahajan appreciates the difference between the two. However, she is not the only one to think this way; politicians cutting across party lines often express similar views. Shamefully, many journalists are also not without blame in shying away from being totally objective. Yet, Ms Mahajan is mistaken if she thinks that is way journalism should be.