Planted questions first and the practice of
‘envelop journalism’
I do not have any idea as to when and how the process of
"planting" questions started in Nepal. Government officials plant questions
, I’m told, prior to the commencement of the press
conference or whatsoever. This they do to enhance the government’s achievements,
which could later convince the people at large that their "government" was not
sitting idle. However, the achievements remain solely on paper only. The planted questions
thus inevitably comes from the mouth of those who usually enjoy funds from the government
and who could be seen talking very high of the establishment that nurtures his or her
journalism. We too have some media men who could be seen loitering around the government
officials and the ministers in their bid to defend their men in government at times of
crisis. And this they do shamelessly but console themselves with the hefty packet of
money. This process of pocketing money in envelopes is called "envelop
journalism" and has become popular in South Asia in the recent years. We have had
such journalists during the erstwhile regime whose sole aim was to defend the system in
lieu of money. Thanks the democratic system too has given continuity to this process. A
minute observation in the media man’s talking style and his presentation of the
government’s views could instantly make you to understand as to who were a envelop
journalist and who was not.
The system of planting questions apparently has come from the
United States. According to Stephen Bates, an Ameican scholar of international standing
writes in his famous book, "If no news, send rumors" about such practices
prevalent in his country. According to him, the Johnson White House frequently planted
questions. The first occasion came early in the administration, at the suggestion of press
secretary Bill Moyers. Johnson was so pleased with the result that, fifteen minutes before
the next news conference, he handed an aide a list of ten questions to be planted (the
aide didn’t succeed). The practice grew so obvious that Moyers opened one briefing by
saying, "I’ll take the planted questions first".
The first time I came across with the planted question was at
the time when Prime Minister Koirala was to leave to New York to attend the UNGA during
the mid nineties. The press conference was organized at his official residence. Hardly had
the Prime minister finished his remarks, one slim journalist from the government
controlled newspaper asked "planted question". Understandably Mr. Koirala spoke
at length about his plans and the gains he expected from his New York trip. The Radio and
the Television repeated the same news to the extent that it became almost ad nauseating to
the lay men.
Talking on the flourishing trade and practice of
"envelop journalism" what could be safely said that the Nepalese newspapers run
into troubles financially, however, this not necessarily applies to the editor. The
practice has flourished to the extent that even businessmen prefer not to offer money to
the media organization but instead ask a particular media man to come and have his share
of "envelop journalism"’. In lieu, the media man prints stories in favor of
the particular trading house which not necessarily should come to the notice of the
publisher. However, this applies to a section of the media men who have made it a point to
go their way as mentioned above. |
