Over the past week, several journalists received invitations over WhatsApp to a “thought-provoking discussion” at the Press Club of India (PCI) on Thursday, June 22. The event was called Media ki Azaadi aur Saakh ka Sawaal (Freedom of Press and its Credibility) to ostensibly discuss the various obstacles faced by the media including its ownership pattern.

Perhaps not the best of omens when not all the panelists featured on the poster hanging for at least a week were in attendance. Ram Kripal Singh and Qamar Wahid Naqvi were absent and KG Suresh, Director General of Indian Institute of Mass Communication was a last minute fill in. Newslaundry spoke to Naqvi, a veteran journalist from the Hindi media, and asked him about his absence. He said he never agreed to be a part of the event was surprised that his name was on the poster.

via GIPHY

The event was…not very well attended. At its height, there might have been 45-50 people not counting the panelists. Add to this, the event, scheduled for 3 pm didn’t start till half hour later as not all of its attendees had arrived.

Especially ironic, or tragic depending on your view is that the same venue also hosted an event in solidarity with NDTV on June  9 in light of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s raids on the Roys where there was standing room only. Especially brutal is the fact that also obliquely dealt with the struggles of reporting in India, namely threats to the freedom of press. The difference in attendance was especially stark.

Perhaps the attendance was so sparse partly because some journalists we spoke to were concerned that some of the organisers were linked to the RSS and this could be an attempt at a counter-narrative on press freedom like the Anupam Kher led tolerance march was in response to the intolerance debate and award wapsi.

There were more takers for the Press Club’s famous egg-on-toast than those in chairs. The three cameras present there represented ANI and a web portal called National Dastak and the always alert Newslaundry camera. The other two left before the event even concluded. Newslaundry’s was the only camera that chose to stay till the event concluded. Our correspondent was so dedicated, she eschewed chai to cover this event for you, our loyal readers.

Noticeably, none of the journalists from the English media were present.

We asked Anil Chamadiya, editor of Mass Media and Jan Media, about the crowd turnout. He said that it was unfair to compare the audience of this event to the one held for NDTV.

In fact, many people in the audience were not even journalists as Chamadiya pointed out.

But not everyone found the event poorly attended. A professional palmist Daya Shankar flitted among the crowd talking to those present giving them (and us) a copy of his presidential nomination papers. We applaud his optimism if not his motive. If his plan was to get himself acquainted with journalists from news organisations and them familiar with his stab at the President’s post, he chose the wrong event. We have mentioned him so it kind of worked. But then he would have known that if he read his own palm.

via GIPHY

The discussion revolved around the falling credibility of the media and the impending threats to its freedom and independence.

A possible reference to older discussions, several speakers admitted that there have always been challenges to freedom of press and its credibility. However, one of the panelists and veteran journalist, Rahul Dev, said what has changed over the years is the fact that the media has been divided. “Jitna media aj apni bheetri khano me bata hua hai, jitni zyada thhappebazi ho rahi hai ek doosre ko lekar, wo mere anubhav me pehle kam hoti thi (Media is divided within, they are calling each other out, all this, in my experience, was not as bad as it is today)”.

Dev was, also critical of the possible control or influence of advertisers’ over journalistic content. Perhaps they could have invited Newslaundry to extol the virtues of advertising-free media. In case you too think the advertising model has compromised journalism do your bit and click here to subscribe and keep news independent.

Dev and several others also called for the formation of a Third Press Commission.

This is indeed a good idea, in fact, it is such a good idea, that the resolution to form one is over a decade old. In an interview to Frontline magazine in 2001, Justice PB Sawant, then Chairman of Press Council of India (PCI) said:

“With the emergence of a global market and the media being in a state of flux, a third commission is a must. We have given detailed suggestions in this respect.”

The recommendations of the First and the Second Press Commission were to “to help newspapers maintain their independence” and “cordial relationship between the government and the press” the Third Press Commission demands for examination of ownership pattern in print, electronic, radio and web media.

via GIPHY

Jai Shanker and Raparia were more pronounced in calling out advertisers’ control on newsrooms.

Shanker, in fact, referenced the rumours about Reliance and Aditya Birla Group’s Kumar Mangalam Birla having stakes in NDTV and Hindustan Times.

This is indicative of perhaps a larger problem, especially when experienced journalists buy into rumours, or normalise them. The NDTV and HT story was a WhatsApp forward from four months ago that had been long since debunked.

While many of the journalists on the panel spoke of the challenges faced by the media, KG Suresh took the opportunity to address his critics who have accused him of attempting to saffronize Indian Institute of Mass Communication. He paraphrased Shashi Tharoor’s famous jibe on Arnab Goswami, referring to his critics as activists “masquerading” as journalists.

Given the tendency of journalists to hold court, what should have ended at 5 pm didn’t till an hour later. But mercifully, we were told there was chai, but we failed to find it. As our peers sought relief in the snacks provided, we chose not to push it–hum press hai, depress nahi.

The author can be contacted on Twitter @shrutimenon10.