2nd Impression The Telegraph

2nd SECOND IMPRESSION

Nepali journalism has taken a quantum jump, quantitatively and qualitatively both, over these years. When I myself entered into this profession, the number of journals and journalists were quite a few. But then the journalists were accorded due respect and honor. However, I still possess the distinction of being neglected and rejected by the official set of the establishment. This happened during the gone era and happily continues till today. I have no regrets.

During my three decades long tenure in this profession, I have been able to notice various types of journalism in Nepal. Below I wish to let my readers understand some of the popular types of journalism being practiced in Nepal. This is my personal opinion and my readers are free to pass on comments if they feel that I have exceeded my functions.

Talking on various types of journalism currently practiced in Nepal, these were the few types which, I’m told, are very popular.

Journalism type 1: The journalists falling in this category are the so-called senior journalists. This set possesses no newspaper but yet claim to be senior journalists. Falling in this domain are those who at one time or the other had served in government owned and controlled media. After quitting the government owned media, they suddenly become the champions of "freedom of expression" and seduce donors for funds. Most of the men who have quit government journalism could be found in various media organizations teaching "ethics" to common journalists. As they have a habit of enjoying monthly perks, the organizations in which they serve at the moment should have some arrangements for them in this regard. The specialty in them is that they almost "hate" those media men who run their own newspapers and face untold sufferings while bringing out the publication. For them, the small newspaper wallahs were simply "beggars" who were a black spot on the face of Nepal’s journalism sector. Most importantly, this set of senior journalists were a highly qualified lots who could represent Nepal in any international seminar. However, the fact is that this set while being in the government enjoyed forein trainings in journalism which others just can dream of.

All said and done, we would love to benefit from their vast expertise provided they come to terms with the realities of the small newspapers’ problems. Personally speaking, I for one, possess immense respect for them. I wish them doing good jobs.

Journalism type 2: In this category fall those who one time possessed their own newspapers but quit the profession when their juniors started calling them "senior journalists". Such persons could be seen occupying chairs in media organizations. Normally in this set fall those who were above fifty years. They have a habit of teaching others the codes and the ethics of journalism. However, they forget the fact that when they had been running newspapers, they have had entered into so many unholy alliances with the then set-up betraying the aspirations of their own professional colleagues. Such persons would wish to conduct two seminars annually. Funding is no problem for them. The specialty of the journalists belonging to this domain is that they wish to be interviewed by their juniors so that they can impose their ideas on the rest in the profession. Most of them could be found pocketing money from big business houses at least during the time of Durga Puja festivals.

Journalism type 3: In this type fall those who are really crooked ones. Their sole aim of jumping into this profession is to extort money from businessmen and the likes. This set has a habit of writing fake stories of a particular person who denies them monetary favors. The pen continues to attack the person until he yields.

Envelope journalism type 4: In this set fall those who have a group. The group decides whom to target. The onslaught begins for weeks and weeks. Some from the group "negotiate" with the person(s) thus attacked. A deal is struck. The money is thus distributed equally.

Journalism type 4: In this category fall those who advocate party politics. The tragedy with them is that they prefer to call them practicing independent journalism. In essence there is party’s mouthpiece. The party funds the paper and the buyers mostly are the party activists. Others wish to read such papers to know that particular party’s political stand on any particular issue or event. Most of the political parties possess their own mouthpieces for obvious reasons. The government too possesses some. The Gorkhapatra, Radio Nepal and the NTV are at the moment close to the Prime Minister. The official media changes its allegiance as the change in government. The changeover is automatic. Those who belong in this set automatically come closer to the political leaders and the ministers. A sub-category could be found here to exist. Since factions and lobbies do exist in various parties, practically each and every senior leader has his own set of mouthpiece. This is considered to be the beauty of political process. The newspapers in this category deride at their own party bosses who differ with his or her mentor. This type of journalism benefits the lay men to understand who is what and who has done what wrong in the party. In essence they are educating the lay men regarding the conflicts in their own political parties. This practice must be kept alive, say lay men.

The last type is the journalism practiced by those who possess neither the skills nor the capabilities. This set depends on others. At times, some one request to print this or that and is told that he would be getting this or that amount. The poor journalist prints the "dictated story" and waits for the money to come. This set is paid less for the story and the greater chunk of the money goes to the man who told him to print the dictated story against one particular person or persons. This set finally collapses and quits journalism for good.

Now all that you have to do is to find a place where Telegraph could be placed in the categories mentioned above.