Journalism, or reporting, is not just a profession but a form of worship, righteous journalists fulfill their professional duty in the best possible way to earn a ‘halal’ livelihood from their profession. Journalism is considered the fourth pillar of democracy. In India, Urdu journalism is believed to be rooted to Maulvi Mohammad Baqir Dehlavi, the first journalist to be martyred in the freedom movement. Today, however, with the advent of online journalism, a new facet of journalism emerged rapidly. The rise of digital platforms has birthed a chaotic breed of ground zero journalism.
The internet revolutionized journalism, democratizing content dissemination through platforms like Facebook and YouTube. What was once an expensive, institutionalized process became accessible and affordable. Yet, this accessibility has been exploited. In Kashmir, digital journalism has morphed into a frenzied race for views, clicks, and followers. Unemployed youth, armed with microphones and cameras, now parade as journalists, prioritizing virality over truth.
With the arrival of the internet , digital journalism has also gradually become a part of journalism here in Jammu and Kashmir. Online journalism has become a means of employment for many unemployed youth. The advent of the internet in journalism was like a fast-paced rally. The internet has transformed the profession of journalism to an unbelievable degree, and it would not be wrong to say that the internet has grafted colorful branches onto the sturdy tree of journalism, resulting in an increase in its branches. This rally gave birth to countless self-made journalists. These are journalists who have misused the internet, taking a microphone in their hands and a cameraman by their side, to start their journalistic careers. These self-made journalists have taken over online journalism, setting aside the importance and usefulness of the great profession of journalism. They possess the skill of blowing up an ordinary news item to an extraordinary level. It has also been observed at times that the news reported by these self-styled journalists lacks any credibility, but there is a lot of hype in its promotion.
In the state of Jammu and Kashmir, many great journalists have even sacrificed their lives to promote journalism. They have nurtured the gardens of journalism with their blood. Unfortunately, today in our state, journalism holds no value or respect, thanks to these self-styled journalists associated with online journalism who do not have much knowledge about journalism. However, they are engaged in promoting their channels by shouting on a microphone, rebranding an ambush as a “snag,” or sensationalizing private marital disputes. At funerals, they shove microphones into grieving faces, barking, “Share this video as much as possible!” Their conscience seems deadened to the anguish of a father carrying his son’s coffin or a woman’s private despair.
Has a person’s conscience become so dead that they cannot even feel the pain of a helpless father? Here, ground zero journalism or reporting has become the most ridiculous spectacle. Although it is a well-known field in journalism, the job of these self-made journalists associated with this field is to rush towards any news with lightning speed to the spot. As soon as they get the news, these people are seen running as if termites have swarmed, and they are dispersing to strike. In fact, the main purpose of ground zero journalism is to get as many views as possible so that their channels on digital platforms can gain popularity quickly, and they can succeed in gaining more followers and monetize in a short period. Ground zero journalists do not care about anyone’s pain or sorrow; they have no sympathy for a helpless father or concern if someone loses their son. They are only bothered about getting views and can go to any extent to get as many views as possible.
The same words are heard repeatedly everywhere: “Comment, like, and share this video as much as possible.” Whether the video is of someone’s funeral, a helpless woman’s cry, or someone’s private domestic issues, ground zero journalists are pushing society into a quagmire from which it is difficult to escape, without regard for such matters.
This reckless approach erodes public trust. Respected journalists who once nurtured the field with their blood are overshadowed by opportunists. Society, complicit through mindless sharing, fuels this decline. If unchecked, every household may soon spawn a self-made “journalist,” roaming streets with microphones, peddling sensationalism as news. Our society is becoming increasingly affected by the rise of ground zero journalism here, which urgently needs to be stopped. If this chaotic online or baseless ground zero journalism is not stopped, the time is not far when every household will give birth to a self-made journalist who will wander the streets with a microphone, crying and shouting, “Share this video as much as possible, or else I can even sacrifice my life!”
Fazil Shafi Bhat
Akingam, Anantnag
Mob: 9971444589
This Article is Edited by Ikkz Iqbal
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