A vibrant democracy cannot thrive without a free press. Powers-that-be must stop treating journalists as tools. At the same time, media organisations must clean their houses — rid themselves of illiterates, extortionists, and sycophants masquerading as journalists.

There was a time when the Indian media was revered — considered the watchdog of democracy and the conscience-keeper of the nation. That stature, unfortunately, has been eroded.

In recent years, the decline of Indian media has become a topic of debate across newsrooms, boardrooms, and drawing rooms alike. Conversations with seasoned journalists from prominent media houses reveal a grim truth — the profession has lost its sheen, and its practitioners, their respect. Journalists are no longer regarded with the same seriousness they commanded 15 or 20 years ago. The perception has changed and the media’s credibility is at stake. And for this situation, journalists and media houses have only themselves to blame. They have failed to uphold the dignity of journalism.

While a few media houses have stayed the course despite facing serious challenges and threats, the majority today are behaving like a “party” — a partner. It is widely known that a significant section of those entering the media field never intended to become journalists. Journalism, for them, was a default option after other avenues closed. Many lack the rigour, depth, and grounding necessary for the profession. They don’t even know why they have become journalists or what the essence of journalism is. These reporters can ask questions, but prefer to run away — or are unable to sustain meaningful conversations — when questioned in return. If we introspect honestly, it is the media that has allowed itself to fall into the trap of “convenience and compromise.”

Journalism is all about saying the obvious without committing yourself. You write what you see. “Seeing is believing” is the concept and the backbone of journalism. As journalists, we don’t just deal with information; we also deal with misinformation and disinformation. Not only truth, but half-truths and quarter-truths… It all depends on which part of the truth a reporter chooses to present to the readers. There lies the real test of his professional experience and intent.

The pressure on media houses and journalists today is unprecedented. With shrinking revenues and changing business models, many media organisations are largely dependent on government advertisements, corporate sponsorships and support, and political patronage. The fallout of this is visible: editors are often asked to support marketing initiatives, correspondents are expected to generate revenue, and stringers are used as local enforcers to “extract or extort” money in the name of advertisements and news coverage.

Journalism is no longer a “pure and pious profession”; it has become more of a transactional activity. The lines between editorial integrity and commercial survival are dangerously blurred.

The COVID-19 pandemic only hastened this decline. Many newspapers shut down, offices were vacated, and operations shrank. Journalists were laid off by the thousands. The media that once held politicians accountable began kowtowing to them. Newsrooms became echo chambers. Many journalists have started behaving like spokespersons, speaking only what the powers-that-be want to hear. Today, media is being categorised — “Godi media” on one end, and a handful of independent voices struggling to survive on the other. And amid all this, the viewer, the reader, the citizen — the ultimate stakeholder — has started switching off.

Like governments, most media houses too carry a lot of baggage and are willing to do anything for survival. Governments — both at the Centre and in the states — have realised the media’s vulnerabilities and are now exploiting them. Instead of fearing media scrutiny, politicians and bureaucrats today view journalists with disdain. Governments feel they can pay media houses back in the same coin if they dare to criticise them — by stopping advertisements — little realising that once they are out of power, the next dispensations would use the same tactics to discredit them.

The tragedy is not just that the media is under pressure, but that it has begun to crack under it. Many outlets have become propaganda tools — not just for political parties, but also for industrialists, and there is hardly any difference between them and a pamphlet.

In the run-up to elections, we see “paid news” passed off as editorials in newspapers and on TV channels. Political coverage is planted, narratives are sold, and credibility is “mortgaged.” What was once the occasional unethical practice has now become the new normal.

That said, not all is lost. There still exists a segment of journalists — perhaps 20 per cent — who are clear about their roles and responsibilities. They are trying to uphold the principles of sober, restrained, and graceful journalism. These are the reporters and editors who do their homework, avoid adjectives, have a nose for news, and don’t indulge in theatrics. They have the ability to critically analyse the functioning of governments, yet many of them believe in “journalism of hope.”

All sections of our system and society — especially governments — must remember that a vibrant democracy cannot thrive without a free press. Politicians must stop treating journalists as tools in their hands. At the same time, media organisations must clean their houses — rid themselves of illiterates, extortionists, and sycophants masquerading as journalists. The responsibility lies squarely on media houses to stop allowing their staff to indulge in the “prostitution of journalism.”

It is high time the media — considered the fourth pillar of democracy — introspected, reclaimed its soul and past glory, before it is too late. Because if the media fails, democracy will stumble.