That the state media is wooed when it suits the interest of people and agencies as per their need, is a given truth. Even as there are warnings and threats on account of what should be printed and what should not be printed in the state media, there are actions of appeasement in various forms. Both are part and parcel of the job and happens in almost every other part of the world though being caught in the middle of various state and non state armed forces, the media here is more prone to threats. There is no general rule that says that the media must be accorded special treatment but given the various instances where the local media has been treated with a certain sense of disdain, there comes the need to look closely within and around the sector. The latest media run in where a section of journalists were not allowed to enter the Raj Bhavan for coverage of the oath taking ceremony of the State Governor is not a one off case. The explanation if it comes in this regard will probably say that the matter happened because of security issues where the security personnel were ‘just doing their duty’ of checking and verifying entrants into the high security zone. But then, what needs to be realized is that the media were also trying to do its duty of covering an event of state importance.
The face off could have been avoided with a bit of co-ordination as happens in cases of media reporting for events where high security issues are involved. For instance, the Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) seeks a list of names from every news agency with regard to media coverage of the State Assembly session or when a national level political VIP comes calling to the state. Every media house sends a list of 2-3 names and entry passes are made in the names on the list who then enter the security area along with a press identity card. For other events and functions, the usual norm is for organizers to send either a letter addressed to the Editor or the Chief News Editor seeking that a reporter be sent to cover the said event. The media house decides whom to depute. For cases where the inviting agencies want the personal attendance of the Editor, invitations are sent by name along with the ‘Editor’ tag. When it comes to State functions like the Republic Day and Independence Day observations, along with events where high security venues or VIP attendance is involved, the media invitations end up being made in the name of the Editors without any additional invitation for reporters who will be the ones to file the story. If in matters of protocol and security, only those who have invites in their name are to be allowed in security zones, then it must be seen that reporters of every news house gets invitation in their name or their names sought, as in the case of the Assembly coverage style of functioning.
A little bit of foresight, some co-ordination and damage control would have solved matters in the Raj Bhavan incident. Having said that, the media here has been subject to various other incidents when big shot political leaders of national parties have come calling with national media personnel in tow and refused to address the local media. While anyone has the right not to speak to the media or even answer questions directed at them, the thumb rule is that you cannot bar the entry of one section of the media to a public event even as another section is made privy to what happens. When it comes to a situation where the local media are barred and national media are given importance in the home state, it smacks either of disdain for the local media who can be seen as the ‘small fry’ or a fear that the local media will end up asking questions on areas or issues that they are ill-equipped to answer. Neither of the two scenarios bodes well, in terms of attitude and coping with ground realities but till the time the media fraternity gets out of its comfort zone of making its displeasure felt and boycotting news coverage at the most, there will be no end to other occasions in the future where the media gets taken for granted. The fraternity will have to think of working out agreed upon mechanisms with those paranoid about security and protocol.