Page 38 - Tehelka Issue 13 - July 15, 2018

The 2018 World
Press Freedom Index
reflects growing
t this juncture, we don’t mar and one spot above Pakistan. Nor-
have to allow the brutal bitterness towards way topped the list while North Korean
murders of independent journalists. The stood at bottom at 180. A major reason
voices like Shujaat Bukhari for India’s poor ranking is the killing
A and Gauri Lankesh to instill antagonism towards of journalists in connection with their
fear in the minds of independent jour- work. “At least three of the journalists
nalists and thinkers. The killings have the media which is murdered in 2017 were targeted in con-
left a clear message: stand up for what openly encouraged nection with their work. They included
you believe in, fight out relentlessly re- the newspaper editor Gauri Lankesh,
gardless of the consequences. The un- by political leaders who had been the target of a hate cam-
timely killing of the fiercely independ- poses a great threat paign on social networks. Three other
ent journalists is certainly an attack on journalists were killed for their profes-
the freedom of press. The World Press to democracy sional activity in March 2018.” The RSF
Freedom Index compiled by Reporters report says that “In India hate speech
without Borders mentions that jour- targeting journalists is shared and
nalists were increasingly targets of over 150 countries and it strives daily amplified on social networks and this
online smear campaigns and threats to maintain a free press in every corner hatred of journalism poses a threat to
while “Prosecutions are also used to of the globe. Registered in France as a democracy.”
gag journalists who are overly critical non-profit organization, it has consult- The Hoot, a non-profit media watch-
of the government.” It is high time the ant status at the United Nations and dog has also observed that “Media free-
government reassures journalists and UNESCO. dom continued to deteriorate in the
comes out with a legislation providing The 2018 World Press Freedom In- first four months of 2018 in India. There
foolproof protection to journalists. dex reflects growing bitterness towards were also around 50 instances of cen-
According to the latest World Press journalists. The antagonism towards sorship and more than 20 instances of
Freedom Index published by Reporters the media which is openly encouraged suspension of Internet services”. Before
Without Borders, India ranked 138th by political leaders poses a great threat the killing of Shujaat Bhukhari, two
among 180 countries. India’s ranked to democracy. The RWB publishes the Dainik Bhaskar journalists, Navin Nish-
136th in 2017 and 133rd in 2016. Actually World Press Freedom Index each year chal and Vijay Singh were killed when
in the Word Press Freedom Day, India since 2002 and it measures the level their bike was hit by an SUV in Bhojpur
slipped two points on the World Press of press freedom available to journal- in Bihar on March 26. A day later, a TV
Freedom Index ranking. The report ists and the quality of journalism in 180 journalist, Sandeep Sharma died when
has been compiled by Reporters With- countries. The parameters to determine a truck run over him in Bhind in Mad-
out Borders (RWB), one of the world’s the ranking include media independ- hya Pradesh. It is learnt that Sharma
leading independent organizations ence, transparency, legal framework had done a sting operation on a sand
dedicated to promoting and defending and environment and self-censorship. mining mafia in Bhind. He had told po-
freedom of information. The RWB has India slipped two ranks on the 2018 in- lice beforehand that he feared threat to
network of active correspondents in dex 138 from 136, one spot below Myan- his life.

Online abuse: Silver lining that isn’t for

female journalists

scaping the wrath of online that are meted to women journalists speech, bigotry, etc.
abusers for the female jour- from other side of the screens of social Such vehement online attacks
nalists and bloggers around media platforms begins from hurling on the female journalists and writ-
the world has become in- abuses, naming, slut shaming, death ers cannot be called as the manifes-
E variably inevitable who threats, rape threats, circulating mor- tation of gender discrimination or
wear heroism on sleeves while risk- phed pornographic pictures/videos, sexuality, instead, a direct attack on
ing their lives to report the truth. The imposter accounts to circulate false the freedom of press and expression
classification of online harassments information, doxxing, trolling, hate to silence voices that represent them.

Tehelka / 15 july 2018 38 www.Tehelka.com

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