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The Print asks me “What is on your mind?”! When I start thinking, suddenly some other topic in the news comes and my mind is diverted and this process goes on and on! So very difficult to dwell on any topic even for a short time so as to write even a few hundred words! This is not just to reflect my mind but also to reflect the rapid emergence of new and concerning topics for discussion in society and nation. The entire society is at a loss! A few suggestions/steps to overcome the wavering mind of individuals and society. Public on their own cannot focus.
- Public—the entire public—should be duly appraised. For this highly professional and exemplary journalism—on a day-to-day basis—is required. What is professional journalism? People may differ in their responses. I am telling this as one of the teachers in higher education institutions. Unfortunately, I am not able to trace the reference to an old sociology textbook. The author in the preface/foreword says–A teacher should not take sides. The teacher has to present all the different views present on any given topic. Stating in other words, a teacher /person may have his own views and affiliations but one has to be neutral if his profession demands so towards his target groups in conveying the information. (Not doing so is disadvantageous /not conducive even to the target groups in whom he is interested).
I can vouch for our science teachers when we tell to students about various topics –Pros &Cons; Merits & Demerits; Advantages & Disadvantages; Positive & Negative impacts, etc — as valid on the date. Of course, scenarios may change with time. For example, when the Green Revolution came in the mid-sixties neither general society nor agricultural teachers had much to tell about the negative impacts of the Green Revolution but not so now. Similarly, so for several issues /topics in Biotechnology. So there is a dire need for professional journalism. Journalists should consider themselves as distinguished and committed academicians and render the job. Journalism includes not only daily newspapers but also, magazines of different periodicity, radio, TV, mobile etc.
- As mentioned above one issue after another keeps coming. Difficult to remember all particularly the time sequence. So, excuse the sequence here. Caste census, state, and concurrent subjects, NEET, NET, CUET, NEP, Budget, CAA, rapes in different places particularly/starting from Kolkata, Mollywood, UPS, political switches even after the formation of the government, etc. And of course, international relations because of -the Russia-Ukraine Conflict; the Israel-Hamas conflict revolt in Bangladesh, etc. Other problems which were earlier there may be still continuing. One should also understand that when you point out somebody, that somebody will point out to someone else who in turn points out at yet another someone and it goes on. In other words, one may ask why some others are not figuring/being pointed out.
- In view of the above the existing manpower in journalism may not be sufficient and needs to be expanded a lot. Of course, the expansion has to be both in number and quality and in terms of specialisations.
- Just pointing out or commenting does not solve the purpose. An action plan has to be chalked out for different goals and appraised to public and all other concerned. The tasks involved, time dimension, manpower, way of functioning and other inputs required to achieve the ends have to be clearly stated and appraised to all concerned including the vast public. Remember! Life is short! How long one can live whosoever one may? Hence, continuity of commitment needs to be ensured.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint