Why journalism and democracy are considered inter dependent?

Democracy has always been hailed as the form of government that is of the people, formed by the people for the people. Democracy is a form of government in which power is held indirectly by citizens in a free electoral system. The popularity of democracy is evident primarily because citizens enjoy universally recognized freedom and liberties. On the other hand journalism, most popularly referred to as press, has long been recognized as that part of social activity which is concerned with the dissemination of news and views of the society. Journalism primarily functions as a watchdog and it bridges the government and the public. The very nature of journalism requires absolute democratic environment for it cannot fulfill its functions in the absence of freedom of expression and opinion. Journalism helps people fully exercise their right to get information and express their opinion. Had it not been for press, people would not have been living in a democratic society rightfully.


Journalism for democracy

As John Stuart Mill stated reading newspapers, and perhaps writing to them, public meetings, and solicitations of different sorts addressed to the political authorities, are the extent of the participation of private citizens in general politics during the interval between one Parliamentary election and another, the role of journalism is more than evident in a democratic society.
In democratic societies the press is acknowledged as the fourth state. Government is the most powerful entity. Government is the only such party which can work for the public or against the public. Power may corrupt, therefore government need to be scrutinized. Government runs the country, so journalists need to co operate with the government. Press needs to deal with government due to its watchdog function and mediating function. Government needs to communicate with the public through press. Since democratic government is supposed to put the people first, the role of press is inevitable in constantly letting the people about the government’s doings. Had it not been for press, the government would have never been watchful enough to let democratic values and practices prevail in any state.


Democracy for press and journalism

Press is also subjected to be regulated and government is the regulatory body. Only a democratic government ensures the proper regulation of the press through which the press can function smoothly and provide citizens with the information required. Only a democartic government can ensure pres freedom. Government can even sue the press in matters of violation of rules or irregularities in the court. Government also provides facilities by regulating advertisements, providing incentives and huge source of news content etc to the press. Government is a major source of advertisements. Press is also an industry. So, it cannot remain aloof. Government can hinder or facilitate the press in many ways as per its own wish. Since legal provisions regarding every institution including journalism are made by the government, it can hugely influence the state of journalism in any country. The very essence of journalism lies in the democratic principles and ideologies which shows how inevitable democracy is for press.

Inter dependence of journalism and democracy

The history of journalism can be traced back to those days when anti-colonial freedom fighters started revealing the unjust activities of the colonizers in front of the mass people through the use of pamphlets. This message disseminating activities were intended to obtain independence and sovereignty of their nation and also get rid of slavery.

Whenever there is any attempt against democratic principles, ideology and system of government, the first attack is seen on press. If we see the case of military system of Junta in Union of Myanmar, the censorship, restriction and ban on broadcasting all news of public concerns characterizes the media system. Which is also proved by very less numbers of radio, television and newspaper houses? On the others side while if we see the state of media in our own country Nepal, freedom of press and publication, right to expressions etc are highly emphasized. This proves that democracy and journalism are like the two sides of a same coin.

The political history of Nepal, during the people’s revolution, the liberation force (Mukti Sena) established radio-broadcasting station at Bhojpur which was shifted to Biratnagar later. The active role of that radio-station and distribution of message through pamphlets to gather mass for protest against tyrannical Rana-regime to establish Democracy for the first time in Nepal can never be forgotten. Similarly the role mainstream media during Jana Andolan II to uproot tyrannical Monarchy system of government and restore Democratic system of government is considered very crucial. During the April uprising, only the private media houses were giving the factual news. On the other hand, the state media was giving false news so as to supress the people's movement.

Gyanendra's step of dissolving the parliament and taking the power in his hand was first evident when he intervened in the operation of press. There were news censorhip and army personnels were on duty inside the newsroom. This was the then monarch's first step in curbing democratic spirit of the press.

Thomas Jefferson’s famous saying of choosing press over government illustrates power of press. Like people’s representatives journalists are also in many ways people’s representatives albeit non elected. They have earned this status out of their work. Press as an institution maybe considered as alternative government/parliament/court.

Due to its very nature government and press don’t get along very well. They are almost always at conflicting/confronting situation. It is so because press acts as a watchdog but the government wants press to be its lapdog.

Worldwide press has been time and again criticized for focusing on government’s criticism only. Reconciling is done by the press through objective/ balanced reporting. Government on its part should allow judiciary to watch over the press and act as the regulatory body. Maintaining transparency would also silence all the confrontation and conflict. Antagonism can be reduced if the government understands journalists’ objective coverage of both positive and negative aspect of government.

Time and again it has been proved that the role of press becomes more than evident when democracy needs to be ushered in or needs to be protected in any country. Similarly, press freedom can only be ensured when there is a democratic government fully supporting the journalism's genuine cause for serving the citizen by letting them exercise their right to opinion and expression. Thus, journalim and democracy can grow from strength to strength when both walk hand in hand working for the upliftment of the country and its citizens.

Community Journalism

Community journalism is locally oriented, professional news coverage that typically focuses on city neighborhoods, individual suburbs or small towns, rather than metropolitan, state, national or world news. While prioritizing news stories, proximity factor is taken into consideration in community journalism.

If it covers wider topics, community journalism concentrates on their effect on local readers. Community newspapers, often but not always published weekly, also tend to cover subjects larger news media do not, such as students on the honor roll at the local high school, school sports, crimes such as vandalism, zoning issues and other details of community life. Sometimes dismissed as "chicken dinner" stories, such "hyper local" coverage often plays a vital role in building and maintaining neighborhoods.

Leo Lerner, founder of Chicago's erstwhile Lerner Newspapers, used to say, "A fistfight on Clark Street is more important to our readers than a war in Europe."

In the United States, about 97 percent of newspapers are classified as "community" newspapers, with circulations below 50,000. Their combined circulation, nearly 109 million, is triple that of the combined circulation of the country's large daily newspapers. An increasing number of community newspapers are now owned by large media organizations.

Community journalists are typically trained professional reporters and editors. Community journalism should not be confused with the work of citizen journalist, who are often unpaid amateurs, or with civic journalism although many community newspapers practice it.

Attacks on Delhi Public School, Dharan by the Maoists in the year 2003 wasn’t given major coverage in the national media but the local paper ‘Blast Daily’ had made it the main new story. People residing in and around Dharan would be more interested in knowing what has been happening around their town rather than a huge event taking place in the capital or other place.

SLC and all that fuss!!!!

SLC- the most dreaded and the most talked about examination more often referred to as the Iron Gate has once again begun to take center stage in Nepali households. From the year students in our country are promoted to the grade when they start using ink pens, SLC begins haunting them. Everything that they are forced to do, right from the cut down on leisure periods( that is if they had any) to the increasing hours of extra classes are all tried and tested methods of SLC preparation practiced in abundance. Students are no longer just mere students; they are almost like soldiers being prepared to face the monster that has been the hovering around every tenth grader for decades. As if parents’ and teachers’ constant reminders about SLC weren’t enough, everyone under the sun who is aware of your SLC candidacy makes it to a point of reminding you how much of a big deal SLC is.

But all the SLC fear is long thrown out of the window by the candidates all thanks to the pleasant experiences shared by their seniors who have been there and done that. For private school students (educated in English medium) the first paper of English is bound to be a cakewalk. However, the scenario is poles apart for the government school counterpart (now that’s a different sad story). Easily comprehendible texts and equally easy grammar questions await them. So the invigilator swears by his duty on the first day. The next day and the days that follow will probably be the most memorable days for most of the SLC candidates since there isn’t any examination that’s more dreaded yet so loved by the students for more than just one reason.

Plenty of students who have appeared for the exam in the past will have one or other incident related to cheating full throttle in the examination hall. My cousin was more than elated to have SLC invigilators who would direct them to maintain silence and do anything they wanted (that included passing answer sheets to changing seats albeit temporarily). The cherry on top, as per my cousin’s say, used to be the daily newspaper spread just perfectly covering his face averting direct encounter of things happening inside the examination hall.

Not all are blessed to have such understanding invigilators who believe in doing their job in the most “student friendly” manner. But then SLC invigilators’ one or the other lenient methods of invigilating make us realize that there are still plenty of Samaritans around us. Except for the super studious lot, who probably loath about the board first declaration being removed, most of them tend to study lesser and lesser as the examinations approach near. Not because of the overly good preparation. Rather they are consoled time and again about how fun it’ll be cheating right under the invigilator’s nose which but obviously lifts their long tired spirits.

Private school students are blessed to have their courses completed on time; actually way before the stipulated time. You see, the faster the better is the mantra private schools abide by to proudly announce the whole world their astounding number of distinction holders. The two shifts of coaching classes (irrespective of students’ personal requirements) are followed by endless revisions, tests, mock tests, and the list goes on. Most of the straight A students by heart almost all the past SLC questions. They almost become maniacs till they are done with the SLC exams. Students are forced to eat breath and sleep the SLC model questions. SLC candidates’ parents find plethora of reasons to not allow their children from taking a break from the academics throughout the tenth grade. After all their kids’ SLC results are crucial in making or breaking their social status.

With so much of overwhelming preparation done just to get past eight subjects teachers and parents should learn to stop pestering the students regarding SLC examination. Yes getting past school is a big deal but what is the whole point of bidding adieu to the golden years of school life with so much of fear embedded in students. For god sake, students who are used to giving three terminal examinations annually need not panic about SLC at all. Only if school officials and parents understood, the whole fuss surrounding SLC would have long disappeared.