Vanshika Kothari
“Journalism should never be prostituted for selfish ends or for the sake of merely earning livelihood or, worse still, for amassing money.”
This was the core ideology that Mahatma Gandhi followed with regard to journalism and journalistic ethics. This also can be attributed as the reason for him not only condemning advertisements, but also actively refusing to include them in his own newspaper publications. But was this the correct way to go? And is it an ideology we should strive to follow today?
Gandhian journalistic ethics stem from an era where India was fighting its most important battle- the Battle of independence.And avoiding advertisements was his way of conveying to the people, his credibility and genuinity. But in a modern world context, it sounds too idealistic to be implemented. We live in a world that is moving so quickly and is centred around what seems to be the very purpose of our life today- status and wealth. Non partisan reporting is a rare phenomenon among the mainstream media houses of today. And while their ethics can be questioned, we simply cannot disregard their reasons as irrational.
Mahatma Gandhi’s views on journalism were shaped by his deep commitment to social reform and his belief in the power of education to bring about change. He saw journalism as a tool for spreading awareness and fostering understanding among people, rather than as a way to earn a profit.His critisicms of journalists who prioritised sensationalism and profit over honest and impartial reporting, still remain relevant, now more than ever.
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