Though there seems to be no dearth of
development news in Orissa, when it comes to the press playing a role in reducing social
disparities and accelerating social
development, the situation is far from desirable. The exclusion of developmental journalism from the mainstream
newspapers of Orissa not only reflects growing apathy of the media to social issues but also prevents several vital concerns from getting the attention that they truly deserve from the public, government, policy makers and other stakeholders Only large-scale calamities like the 1999 Super Cyclone or startling news such as starvation deaths and child selling get both the national and regional media’s full attention. But, only for that particular moment. Very rarely are development stories relating to human development, poverty, health, gender, population, followed up and properly investigated to create an impact and give an in depth perspective to such issues.
The progressive shrinkage in newspaper coverage on social and developmental issues was also proved in a media monitoring survey conducted by the Orissa-based Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD). According to the findings of the survey, Oriya and English dailies in the State had devoted less than 4% and 2% coverage respectively of their total space to social issues. The Survey also revealed that social development issues were no more a priority with newspapers, while they had given substantial space to advertisements, business, sports, entertainment, crime, politics etc.
According to the CYSD Survey, the placement of stories revealed that little space was devoted to social issues, and they were mostly relegated to less important pages and placed insignificantly. Interestingly, the vernacular Oriya dailies showed relatively better concern for social issues than their English counterparts. The Survey on coverage of development issues focused on five major themes —social development and poverty alleviation, women issues, child rights, dalits and tribal/indigenous people and human rights. Regional language dailies chosen for the study included The Samaj, Sambad, Prajatantra, Pragativadi, and Dharitri. The English dailies included The Times of India, The New Indian Express, The Telegraph, and The Asian Age.
Most development stories covered by the media in Orissa are mostly on the lack of infrastructure in certain areas, rarely offering a desirable solution to the problem or holding the concerned authorities accountable. Other development success stories are also seldom highlighted.
Few newspapers in the State have full time, professional rural or development correspondents and most of the contributors are either stringers or people from other professions trying their hand at journalism. Many times, their understanding and perception of development issues are limited. Though the local television channels do have programmes on development issues, their viewership is few and far between.
Even magazines and newspapers in the State focusing exclusively on development and pro-poor issues have their share of problems. One such newspaper is Janavani (People’s Voice) — a social newspaper launched in Orissa in January this year. Since the last six months of its publication, the social daily has been highlighting issues and problems of the rural poor, dalits and adivasis in the villages of the State. For the Janvani team, bringing out the edition daily is indeed a challenge.
Even independent journalists who have tried to build a strong public opinion by publishing pro poor and pro-people development issues have had to face severe obstacles.
Development media experts feel that to keep the flag of development journalism flying there has to be public pressure, a groundswell of voices of young committed journalists and civil society organisations that compel newspapers to rethink their priorities. Fortunately at least a few committed development journalists in Orissa are aware of the change tthat such stories have the power to initiate, if properly investigated and presented. Thakur.Regards
sabyasachi amitav