This article arises from my not so good habit of eves dropping; call it bad manners or a disease, it has indeed become my greatest source of knowing the society and the people at large. A long journey especially in a city like Mumbai, often gets boring, but thanks to my habit of uninvitedly entering others conversation that makes my long journey short.
Let me confess, not all stories are worth an article but this one kept me thinking for more than 24 hours and therefore I decided to share the conversation and rattle few more brains. A common Mumbaikar spends 30% of his day in the local train and that is where he/she builds the greatest networking platforms, probably if could be measured it would cross the numbers on Face book and twitter. The protagonist of my story was also one of the usual local train travellers, seemed to me like a big guy in a small organization, his networking team included few middle aged men and a young lad from college and today their topic was ‘The Press Card’.
Press card as defined by wiki is a privilege pass given to special journalist who cover special stories, well even I being a communication student, grew up with the same definition of a press card, but things had changed and like everything else even press card was put to sale and this my moment of revelation. My protagonist very proudly told his fellow passenger, do you know a publication offered me press card, they said now I could park my car anywhere, break signals, avoid queues at Sidhivinayak temple and avail discounts. This special privilege was not taken as a sign of prestige but was the subject of ridicule amongst those who were a part of the conversation, The young blood refuted loud, saying how can a need of a profession be sold like cookies to the common man, this will lead to chaos and corruption. Another gentlemen, squeaked and growled with a look that said, ‘The country is going to the dogs’. Each one used their own set of vocabulary to express their anger towards such lowness shown by a body that is entrusted with the responsibility of spreading awareness and instigating change.
35 minutes of heated dialogue and then each one parted to meet again with a fresh topic, but these 35 minutes left me with undaunted 35,000 questions. Why? Who? For whom? On what grounds? Who’s responsible? What’s the price? What if it lands in wrong hands? Where are the teachings of journalism?
I still remember my special classes on journalism where we were told that truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability are the tools that ensure rightful and ethical dissemination of events and news to the public. But if journalistic bodies sell their privilege that is given with a purpose for pleasure and abuse of power, then who can we trust with responsibility?
I work for the world of advertising so if I were to sell this card what would I say; Breaking Rules is in fashion, get your licence to buy power today! Well if you have a better line to sell the product do share, you never know tomorrow we might see them on shop windows.
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3 comments:
Well portrayed, and some serious food for thought, of how some (un)intentionally get carried away for the sake of small privileges without knowing we're making the big picture worse.
Guess they've made getting a press card as simple as getting a credit card. It is shameful and disgusting, wonder what all people get to do with such privileges.
country is indeed going to the dogs!!!
i once remembered coming back from a shooting, and suddenly during our shoot there was curfew declared! so we took our "press' written vehicle n heeded home...whenever we were stopped by police, our director gave the angry glance and said "we have an important piece of news that needs to be broadcast right now... you being a civic citizen cant stop us, and if you do pls give me ur name rank n unit no" ppl allowed us to move freely! now after reading this...i feel so so guilty!
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