Editorial Director JK News Today
Digital media has become an integral part of our societal way of thinking and response . It has come to influence every part of life , and it can play a big role , as never before by any other platform including print media, as a peace builder in conflict zones . These are stark realities of the day . The fact remains that digital media has an ever enlarging capacity to disseminate instant information and response .
Yes, there are two sides to it, it can be a big source of authentic information which can change the course of news and analysis and impact entire social way of thinking and acting . It also can cause major disruptions and serve as destroyer-in-chief in critical situations . But if it is handled by professionals , having knowledge of the ground and sensitivities, there can be no better tool of disseminating information in time to prevent ugly situations , and it can be the most helpful means in fostering peace and progress of the region (s).
In simple words, Digital media can be anything ranging from videos , television, social media and internet and many more . That depicts its reach because of its mobility and accessibility . A smart phone bring out everything which a newspaper , or even for that matter television cannot , because of its size and 24X7 availability.
According to experts , the digital media is beneficial for a life or death situation.. Digital media connects people in ways never before possible, enabling users to connect with socially isolated . Digital media also facilitates interaction across social, economic, cultural, political, religious and ideological boundaries, allowing for enhanced understanding according to a 2015 survey by Pew Research Center,
Until this day, there is preponderance in governments to invest the money in advertisements in the media which is fading into oblivion . The twentieth century mindset of supporting the newspapers to sustain with an objective of getting favourable coverage. That concept was relevant until the close of the 20th century because the population used to read and relish their morning tea with the newspapers . This also is a fact that the people used to read and share the newspaper with neighbors and like-minded people. They drew their knowledge and daily dose of news from the printed word in newspapers , then discuss it among themselves. That was the world of yesteryear.
By the turn of the century , a new generation has taken to instant new. Their smart phones have become source of multi-media , where they receive news , share and also make it viral as never before. These are new ways of life in the 21st century .
As we have witnessed it time and again that that this digital media is both helpful and hurtful. There are three types of dissemination of information on the digital platforms- one the real-time information as it happens and the reporters report it through their lens as they see it ; second , there is analysis of the events which is mostly based on debates with diverse viewpoints finding their expression ; and the third is out and out disinformation .
The third part is suicidal because it combines both misinformation and disinformation to mislead the audience with an explicit move to incite the vulnerable sections and create disruptions in normal life . This, in the case of Jammu and Kashmir , is having two elements – The propaganda coming from across the border, exploiting religious sentiments and inciting the people to rise against the system Second , there are sections that believe that they have been wronged for which they don’t have substantive basis , but still they live in their make-believe world , This section doesn’t keep its self-inflicted frustrations to itself but share within society , challenging the system to trigger resentment and frustration among the youth.
Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Valley has fallen prey to this mischief. It travelled from guns to stones and loved having deep-seated resentment against the system. Frankly speaking this was against the country, its symbols and governance system. The social media campaigns in 2008, 2010 and 2010 wreaked havoc and the street scenes of Kashmir were played up in international media , thus not only embarrassing the country but also raising several inconvenient questions . This campaign became highly volatile and harmful for the country , because there was no convincing counter narrative . All the broadcasts and thesis floated on the state-run-media and the government sponsored outlets could not convince . The lack of objectivity leads to nemesis.
Not that the attention was not paid to the need to counter the anti-national narratives through digital platforms . These platforms , to please their financers, became propagandists . Outright propaganda is as harmful if not more as the platforms indulging in disinformation. In the process some of those who had no idea what journalism is , or who believed that having a mobile phone and internet availability is what all they need , made the things worse for the cause of normalcy and national interest.
There is a very crude , but true example of it. The day Article 370 was abrogated , some media outlets stationed in Srinagar , said everything has fallen in place. The people were happy and Kashmir is engulfed in a never-before seen peace .It was not the exact reflection of the situation on the ground , because it was an eerie silence everywhere . The situation had to be handled in a sensitive and pragmatic manner, the media outlets failed miserably .They lost trust of the people . Losing trust in such situations is like cracks in a glass which never get smoothened whatever is the effort.
Today , six years after the abrogation of Article 370 , the story is different. The normalcy and peace are real words having real sound to ears of the people , but that is not because of the media outlets that believe in raising their TRPs without being truthful. In fact, they became a source of silent growth of radicalism , the very basis of the discontent in Kashmiri society . Radicalization is much more dangerous than actual guns and bombs . The firings and explosions kill and injure people and also cause social upheavals , but the radicalization eats vitals of society and logical thinking. A misplaced ideology is imposed on rational thinking and well-being of society and the nation .
Digital media , run by professionals with experience on the field and those who can configure the need of the hour with all objectivity in fulsome pursuit of national interest , is the answer . that is where the need is to invest and get the returns with a realistic narrative and on ground participation in the national oriented narratives.
The target audience is Gen. Z It is a recognized fact that the teenagers who use social media are psychologically healthiest The notion that everything is ugly must be discarded, because there is an element that can change their behavior in a positive fashion. The digital media can play a critical role , and J&K requires a vibrant and professional digital media to correct the fault lines of the past and open new future for the land and Gen.Z.
