Guwahati: In a democratic country, any citizen who expresses their views constructively through any medium (especially the now widely used digital platforms) can be considered a journalist. This individual may be associated with any profession and not necessarily employed by a media house. However, this definition does not apply to a working (or professional) journalist, according to a forum of media persons based in Northeast India.
The Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA), in a statement, argued that recent debates following the arrest of a city-based journalist have exposed efforts by motivated elements to mislead the public by wrongly associating the identity of a practicing journalist with an individual who is also a practicing lawyer.
“It is astonishing that many people took to the streets with the firm belief that the particular journalist was a full-time journalist (with no affiliation to any legally recognized profession). However, the main advocate of the movement has remained silent about the true identity of the journalist in question,” said the JFA statement.
The forum pointed out that despite repeated public inquiries from Assam’s Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and IPR Minister Pijush Hazarika, the Gauhati Press Club (formerly the Guwahati Press Club) has shown indifference on the matter. “The press club authorities should clarify whether its constitution permits a practicing lawyer to be a general member (who can subsequently be promoted to the executive committee). However, the same GPC restricts freelance journalists, who have been associated with journalism for decades,” the statement continued.
The forum also emphasized that both CM Sarma and Minister Hazarika should use the term “working/practicing/professional journalist” when referring to individuals whose only lawful profession is journalism—whether they are employed by a recognized media house or not—to avoid unnecessary confusion.
Furthermore, instead of focusing on the GPC, the government should address an important issue for hundreds of GPC member-journalists by providing a plot of land for a permanent address within the city (with necessary funds sanctioned). JFA President Rupam Baruah and Secretary Nava Thakuria added that the GPC should be encouraged to vacate the Ambari archaeological site, which dates back to the Sunga-Kushana dynasty (187 to 75 BCE), for proper preservation and further research.
