Amid criticism that his move to determine minimum qualifications for journalists is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of the profession, Press Council of India (PCI) chairperson, Markandey Katju, called for a ‘healthy debate’ on the issue and lashed out at ‘touchy journalists’. He has also expanded the mandate of the committee, meant to decide on educational standards for journalists, to suggest ways to regulate and supervise journalism institutes and departments.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr Katju said that since journalism was now a ‘developed profession’, it required ‘formal qualifications’.
“Journalism is a specialised field now. Areas of super-specialisations like legal, financial, labour, agricultural reporting are growing. This requires formal training.” He argued that even peons needed a high school certificate. “What is the justification for journalists not meeting any minimum standards?”
Responding to the fact that many established and successful journalists never went to journalism school, the PCI chairman said they were good journalists ‘despite that, and not because of it’. “Many others could have become great journalists and blossomed, but did not because they did not have formal training.”
He also countered the argument that there were no legal barriers to become a journalist in any other democracy with a free and independent media. “Just because nothing has happened in the past and elsewhere does not mean it cannot happen in the future.”
Mr Katju also dismissed the notion that employers must be left with the right to judge whether someone was qualified and indicated regulatory bodies could set minimum standards.
Mechanism
Elaborating on his desired model, Mr Katju said that anyone who became a full-time journalist, even if the person had a masters or PhD in an academic discipline, must go through a journalism school. “They must obtain a diploma or degree. And then, like the Bar Council gives licenses to lawyers, journalists must get licenses. In case of any professional misconduct, these licenses can be withdrawn.”
He clarified that since the Press Council’s mandate was limited to the print media, the committee would not look at minimum standards in television or new media journalism. “But these mediums, like any social activity, must be regulated too.”
Mr Katju added that he was just making a suggestion. “The committee will give a report. The Press Council may accept or reject it, or accept it with modifications. It will then go to the government, which may accept or reject it. The government will then present it to parliament, which will send it to a Select Committee. The Select Committee will come back to the parliament. Both houses will debate it, and only after it is approved by a majority and the president signs it, the bill will become a law. Why make such a hue and cry instead of engaging in a healthy debate?”
Journalists, Mr Katju said, sat on judgement on everyone else but whenever anyone made a suggestion to reform the profession, they launched ‘furious attacks’. “Are they above questioning and criticism?” he asked.
Objections
The PCI move continued to draw criticism from media organisations. The Delhi Union of Journalists, in a statement, called it ‘regressive’ and said institutionalising minimum standards would make the professional ‘restrictive’ and reflect the ‘bias of the privileged’.
The South Asia Media Commission said the decision was beyond PCI’s ‘jurisdiction’, and would lead to the ‘end of press freedom’.
Keywords: Markandey Katju, Press Council of India, Journalism, Educational qualifications, Minimum standards
Katju must set the example first. How can a retired supreme court judge become the chief of Press Council of India ?. There must be pre set qualifications and experience to be a Press Council of India chief and they must be below 65 years age.
Mt Katju demand is fully justified. Journalism is a nobel profession which absoultly needs some basic qulaification and training. But nowdays this profession has become a business and blackmailing. In the coal belt of chattisgardh there are lots of journlaists withour formal education their only job is to balck mailing the state and PSU officials for money. If they did not oblize then they print rubbish about them. Some of the reports lacks substance.In the visual media it is even worst to watch some of the programmes. It is time introspection for the media.
Out of four estates of democracy of India, only two ie., judiciary and executive, require
professional qualifications and required degree. But unfortunately politicians and journalists
can enter the field without a single educational qualification. While politicians can get away
with scams and corruption, it is a fact that some unscrupulous journalists in the background
are indeed resorting to blackmailing tactics for pecuniary gains. Justice Katju should fight for
entry level qualifications and professional code of conduct for not only journalists but for
politicians as well.
The standards in public life have been steadily falling owing to a vast
majority of the politicians in the last three decades. Will Justice
Katju prescribe requisite educational qualification from Panchayat to
Parliament levels for candidates to contest elections and to those who
want to be the office bearers of every political party in the country ?
I think Mr.Katju is right. I am failed to understand why a journalist does not need to have a qualification.
If you call yourself professional then you must need proper educational merit to qualify yourself.
It should be regulated as other profession.
Thanks
The field of journalism had its roots in missionary discipline ,which
was followed by professional version and in its present edition it is
nothing but business. Hence, the attacks , and nothing wrong with them
coming from any quarter. The jute press did not exist in Indira Gandhi
days, when the word was coined, but now it is in full form and
action.Globalisation, liberalisation , have completely seized the
society and have taken the shape of SURASA of monetization of every
activity, including journalism which draws its strength from right to
expression. But will the society allow mis -utilization of this right
for making a living from journalism or furtherance of profits by media
houses.They are playing with the public trust and credibility in the
name of freedom of expression ( it is becoming business). But even if
qualifications are mandatory,what prevents a journalist from being a
part of paid news ? The lesson is CLING TO TRUTH.
I am unable to understand the objective behind this excercise.
Since we are going to debate into determining minimum qualifications for journalists, why not we also do it for holders of public offices ; along with steps to make sure that politicians do not submit fake degrees and certificates?
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