In a move that could significantly alter the nature of professional journalism in the country, Press Council of India (PCI) chairman Justice Markandey Katju has set up a committee to determine the minimum qualification for a journalist. The move has drawn sharp reactions from media practitioners and experts.
In a press note issued on Tuesday, Justice Katju stated that in contrast with other professions such as medicine, law and teaching, there was no qualification for entry into journalism. “Hence, very often persons with little or inadequate training in journalism enter the profession, and this often leads to negative effects, because such untrained persons often do not maintain high standards of journalism.”
Given the media’s importance, Justice Katju asserted the time had come ‘when some qualification should be prescribed by law’. He had constituted a committee ‘to consider all aspects of the matter’ and suggest ‘the qualifications a person should have before he can be allowed to enter the profession of journalism’.
The committee consists of two PCI members, Shravan Garg and Rajeev Sabade, and an associate professor of journalism at Pune University, Ujwala Barve. Its report will be submitted to the full Press Council for approval, and then forwarded to the government ‘for suitable legislation’.
“Absolute rubbish,” said Vinod Mehta, editorial chairman of the Outlook Group, when asked for his reaction to the move. “Some of the greatest journalists the world has produced have been without university degrees.” Giving his own example, Mr. Mehta told The Hindu, “I am a B.A fail and was academically the most undistinguished student in school and college. And I haven’t done too badly.”
Despite having two master’s degrees in media from, in her words, ‘among the best schools globally’, NDTV Group Editor Barkha Dutt had a similar take. “The best training is on the field.” Ms. Dutt said while she could see the arguments about ‘declining standards and quality in journalists’, she did not believe the answer was in ‘more degrees’.
Journalism teachers too shared the sentiment.
Sashi Kumar, chairperson of Chennai’s Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), felt journalists did not need to be educated to become journalists. “Most hard-nosed reporters who do unconventional beats, break scoops and exposes, are in the regional language press. And they are not necessarily MAs or PhDs. This is an ill-considered move and reflects Justice Katju’s ignorance about the field, and strikes at the root of freedom of expression.”
He added that while qualifications help and were desirable, making it ‘mandatory’ would be very unfortunate. Journalism, the ACJ head emphasised, required a different set of skills like cultivating sources, keeping one’s ear to the ground, having a pulse for news, and contextual reporting which did not necessarily come from academic training
Keywords: Journalism qualification, journalism education, journalism schools, Justice Markandey Katju, Press Council of India committee
Mr Katju is really a man of honour and I really appreciate his decision. He is trying to uplift the standard of journalism and the idea of introducing basic education will help to bring some educated journalist in future. We can hope to get better and real picture of, what we are calling it now as NEWS. Apart from this Mr Katju's wish on putting some regulation on Media and Print news is also a very uselful thought and it is for the betterment of the people of India.
Minimum standard of ethics are important and mandatory but not
education. It is very much possible that an less educated person can be
a good journalist, if he know what is right and what is wrong and have
good ethos.
The Government should have a quiet word with Justice Katju to ease him out of PCI to save himself from further embarrassment. He is clearly unfit for the job. I cringed reading his letters to Shamshad Ahmad, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan ('Pakistan is a fake country' theme).
We need a "Minimum standard of Ethics" more importantly than a "Minimum
standard of Education".
Why fix what is not broken ? Is that just because what is really broken is so hard for Mr Katju to fix ?
A good journalist is one who produces good journalism. That's all there is to it. Pedigree, qualifications, awards do not matter. If you have any doubt, look at Barkha Dutt's and Vinod Mehta's cases.
I completely agree to Justice Markandey Katju's views. Obviously this
will not be liked by the Journalist community as most of them do not
have the necessary qualifications. A few decades back , a journalist
was highly respected by the society as he was only reporting news and
giving unbiased comments . In today's world , people with money and
might start a newspaper , TV Channel and report only suitable to their
vested interests. Only people who would work as per the partisan
interests are allowed to work as Journalists and it is the poor public
which gets misled because of the misinterpretations of truth.
Just because we are a democratic society doesn't mean there shouldn't
be any standards for journalists. It is as important as any other
profession as doctors,engineers. So,if people are not emphasising on a
qualification for Journalism, does it mean it is inferior to other
professions.Definitely not.Arise,awake,stop having vested
interests.Please think in the interest of the Nation
The Hindu is a distinguished voice of democracy in India. I think there is no clear answer to this, but we must acknowledge that there have been a decline in standards and quality in journalism. Hopefully not an academic degree, but at least an internship in The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policies, is bound to give aspiring journalists a creditable thought process and some professionalism; to deal with matters of working of India's parliamentary democracy and reporting around the same.
Better would be to make training mandatory for those who do enter the
field of journalism, specially training on morals.
A formal degree may not be needed but some form of in house training
is needed before letting out media people on the street. Consider
this... A news channel puts up the picture of MK Alagiri and says that
he is MK Stalin, a sports reporter asks the cricket umpire before a
match as to which side he would be supporting... A child who is
brought to a nursing home 4 days after fever had started in a critical
position breathes his last there and the excited reporter calls the
Doctor as a killer!!. When we demand better quality movies, TV shows,
better vegetables, better Health care, there is no harm in expecting
better journalists
I thoroughly believe Katju has said nothing wrong. There must be a
minimum qualification for journalist. Media and journalism should be
made accountable and responsible and those who have a weak approach and
low knowledge quotient should be barred from electronics and print
media.
Journalism was far better before the time of 'trained journalists'. There was definitely more integrity, accuracy and credibility. More is wrong with the mediascape now than just untrained journalists!
Justice Katju is committed person with society. His intention is clear and no one can raise question on it. But his solution on irresponsible behavior of media is not workable. Because educational qualification or degree does not imbibe values in individual. if such is the case then all degree holder people would have become responsible citizens.
“The best training is on the field.” says Ms. Dutt and we have seen the
quality of reporting and journalism she takes credit for. The
journalists are the ones who will protest the most since this will
expose a large number of the fraternity who are parading as journalists
and consequently bringing a bad name to the profession.
Journalism is all about let the folks know what's happening in the society and spreading an idea too. As we all are individuals so our thoughts, views, manners to tell things and so on. And these are human qualities. I can't understand how an university degree will surely help to improve these qualities, but field experiences can definitely do. If we want to engage with others, we have to use the languages, the manners in which they are comfortable.
Katju simply says that journalists should have some minimum
qualifications and has constituted a committee to determine what those
will be. The commenting journalists have jumped the gun and assumed that
he meant university degrees. That may not be the case in the end.
It cannot be denied that of late, a host of maladies afflict the media -
- unverified news, sensationalism, trial by media, lack of maturity and
balance in reporting news are just some of them. These are rife in all
form of journalism -- print, TV, radio, and electronic. Not to mention
opinions and advertisements presented as news taking the public for a
ride.
Sure, some training to develop a certain perspective on ethics, morals,
dignity on screen and print, professionalism, writing, language, among
others would help a lot. They will help keep journalists the custodians
of our democracy's fourth pillar instead of the sleaze purveyor it is
becoming now.
Perhaps Mr. Katju was worried about the declining standards of
journalism where most of the news which comes out of the public domain
always targets a particular community.The media should always be
constructive in bringing the whole diverse country together rather than
dividing it.
such a strong opinionated person this Katju
If qualification from universities is meant, we must remember that
there are a lot of defects starting from admission, teaching (students
mostly made to memorise content for exams), examination system (mostly
memory is tested while understanding is given least importance). We
know that most successful real life people in all fields are either
dropouts, or not educated enough for the profession. The most honest,
graceful, and responsible people are not the most qualified people
because there is no paper to be passed for these subjacts in the
qualifying exams. As minimum qualification has prevented the best
experts from teaching in engineering and other professional
institutions, journalism too will be degraded to purely academic
nature without real life experts.
No wonder we see deplorable standards of journalism . Ability to write well and
present is the only criteria. In India,over the past few decades we have seen extremes of
high and low. But the general standard has declined.Today, we need a general
standards maintained in the journalism.Let there be a minmum qualification plus at
least a one year diploma which anybody could join on distant education. This country is
convinced that those entrusted with the responsibility to run it, need no
qualification.Those who have right to write about everything and give their opinion and
point of view on everything,question everything and everybody,can report on every
issue-need no qualification.
In reality the prescription of minimum qualification for medicine, law and teaching has not in any way contributed in enhancing the professionalism. Giving mandate to academicians to control entry in to a profession will add only to the confusion for even Court and Parliament will then be constrained to not interfere in their decision which will be deemed as that of experts without any merit.But at the same time it is not anything impossible to design and decide on a course that will deliver quality viz., that will include definite field work and necessary professional exposure. Professional pride do not come without academic achievement. If Mr.Katju delivered on designing such curriculum then the other professional education can also take cue from it and revamp their curriculum. Today a career in a decent journalism is beyond the reach of an ordinary citizen and right education can bridge that gap.
Katju ought to know politicians and journalists need no qualification at all. That is
why they straddle the world from the best to the other extreme.qualifications make
them not.mere qualifications make no good judge too.
As long as the next generation of journalist's aren't looking up to
the current crop as role models they will be fine.
social media is changing the contours of journalism! anyone and everyone
has the right to express his opinions irrespective of academic
qualifications.
Mr. Katju is a great sincere personality of the highest order whose wish it to transform Indian society for better. His prescription for a minimum prerequisites for a journalist are grossly misunderstood by the media bigwigs. He simply wants to give a touch of finesse so that situation improves. I recommend Katju should include India watcher Thomas L Friedman of NYT also in the team.
As is his wont, PCI Chairman, Justice Markandey Katju has again stirred a hornet's nest, talking about the minimum qualifications to be a journalist. As the journalism aces have averred, a good journalist need not necessarily be one with fancy degrees in the subject. A nose for news, a facile writing style, objectivity and fearlessness are the sine qua non for a good journalist and that comes when you are on the job 24/7.
Regulation from the top is probably not needed for products and
services for which "selection pressure" exerted by the consumers is
almost immediate. Consumers will automatically neglect reports and
publications that are sub-standard. Also citizens have become more
aware of the conflicting "news and opinions" that reaches them and
are maturing to sift the chaff from the wheat, due to opening up of
the airwaves. Governmental control will only stifle free
dissemination of diverse opinions, when people brain-washed and
indoctrinated with notions and paradigms and made imbecile through
education become reporters. The bottom line: Educate the citizens;
Not the reporters. The citizens will then see through sub-standard
reporting and many of them will end up reporting themselves.
There are many EDUCATED journalists who write for PAID news.
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