Civil journalism

Nishikanta Naorem *

A Collection of Press cards in October 2009

The preconceived mind of the people thinks journalists or media persons are extra capable individuals, and it is true to some extent but the gap of capability between them and normal people has been diminished in today's world of sophisticated gadgets and their applications.

Once we only heard about mobile phone but could not use it, in early 90s at large in the context of Manipur. We saw desktop interchangeably computer but only a few fortunate could use it and its applications in the same decade. But, today everybody is well aware of internet, mobile internet, e-governance, etc., which are available in everybody's neighbour.

The persistent investigation, innovation and curiosity of human's mind dig out the potential latent for eons to lead a comfortable life.

And I would not be mistaken to say that it is the boon given to mankind by mankind in the grace of God. These sophisticated weapons enable us to take a step ahead from being media consumer towards media feeder.

For instance, the picture column in front page of Hueiyen Lanpao, English edition contribute by public is the best example. 'OUR CITY OR OUR DISGRACE' is the mirror of our unhygienic society and the pictures in this section are wholly contributed by public. Such pictures or few articles in Editorial page are contributed by either inexperience or experience public in media premises.

And the activities of this kind gave birth to new terms like 'Civil journalism' or 'Street journalism' which are extending endlessly in the horizon between public and journalist.

Now- a-day, we quite often encounter the very term civil journalism and it was not just evolved in a day but rather revolved with the journey of human civilization. Even new terms are continuously structured expanding the vocabulary's quantity. It cannot be credited to journalist only but to common people too.

For instance 'tweet' or 'tweeter' or whatever the derivatives it has has recently been utilized by mass and thus it began to walk on in its journey for our generations coming up.

The work nature of civil journalism clarifies the participation of people in e-governance, socio-political and economical issues at large.

The content or the central idea in any civil contributed article or picture or feature inform, entertain and educate the masses. It may sometimes lead to be a whistleblower when the content is newsworthy.

The present political and economical scenario of Manipur has been condemned by different pressure groups on its liquidation and in this regard people have a great responsibility to rectify up to permissible range.

Here, media is our tool to carve it and only the eminent journalist cannot do that, they need the hand and mind of people too.

The discontent and anxiety of people are disseminating through media striking at the responsible leader, department, organization or political group to look into the matter. For a developing society or country the need of people are the priority tasks to be taken up without any compromise.

In a state like Manipur, the power or media and journalist are stringent due to law and order but on the other hand we have strong mobocracy.

And if our media doesn't design it with proper guidance, it would not take long to make our society a turmoil society.

We need both media and people, for a civilized society, to go hand in hand for that it should be a wise decision for media person to encourage civil journalism.