Unshackled media makes for robust democracy

some detail, it is to highlight the problems that the media often faces in their professional pursuits, and which seems to be growing.

On some beats, particularly, journalists are seen as adversaries rather than those doing a specialized job that demands them to scrutinise, inquire and investigate. Sometimes those in uniform or authority see this as irksome or intrusiveness.

Fact is, journalists function in a highly competitive environment. Their current status and future livelihood depends on quickly and how comprehensively they fulfil assignments.

Some, in fact, run great personal risks in pursuing their vocation, and there have also been instances where they’ve paid with their lives: J Dey and Gauri Lankesh, for example.

This does not mean that journalists have a halo on their heads. As in every profession, there are some journalists who are incompetent, have an incomplete understanding of the law, are unjustifiably demanding or are charlatans peddling fake news.

But by and large in my experience, most are earnest and responsible professionals striving to do their best: just as one would imagine those in uniform or those occupying positions of great power.

Because these professions are so closely intertwined yet driven by different compulsions, the relationship can get prickly.

However, whatever the rough edges, a fine understanding of each other’s professional motives and practices is fundamental to maintaining a healthy, robust and functioning democracy.

This is where, in the larger context, the scenario tends to get a little worrying. The media is coming under increasing duress. This is not restricted to India, but globally, going by the World Press Freedom Index put out by the advocacy Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF).

In this year’s index, India ranks at 138, two notches lower than in 2017. This is just one rank higher than Pakistan, and below nations like Uganda, Afghanistan, Chad, Qatar, Zimbabwe otherwise thought to have a muzzled media.

The RSF Index is not gospel, yet is a signal of about the travails that exist for journalists in the country and why those in authority need to ensure that democracy and freedom – within the framework of the law – is not shackled.