“Senior media persons debate whether the remedy lies in stringent regulations or proper training procedures as citizens’ journalism mushrooms on social media in Kashmir, raising concerns about accuracy, ethics, and safety.”
Suhaib Bhat & Numan Bhat
SRINAGAR: As the morning of November 2 began, the sound of gunfire woke up the Khanyar area in downtown Srinagar.
A young girl stood with her mike near a security forces vehicle narrating the situation amid heavy gunfire while facing a cameraperson.
As she narrated the situation amid heavy gunfire, the vehicle’s door suddenly opened, and security forces rushed forward. Startled, the girl screamed and ran.
The incident highlights an emerging trend – of youth reporting from the field without any basic training in journalism, raising pertinent questions about authenticity, credibility, and as the encounter site revealed, also about the lack of training and awareness of safety protocols needed in high-risk situations.
At the Khanyar encounter on November 2, many young people with microphones and ID cards around their necks were seen. In much fewer numbers, they were also present at the Harwan gunfight site on November 10.
In recent years, Jammu and Kashmir has seen a major spike in the rise of digital platforms and social media news agencies leading to the mushrooming of self-styled journalists. They mostly comprise young men and women, some in their college uniforms.
Reporting From Sensitive Areas
According to an estimate, nearly 100-150 journalists were present at Khanyar. Yet, among them, the presence of these young journalists was conspicuous. It was not difficult to see why.
While the professionals maintained a distance from the security movement, these youth could be seen jostling for space to be seen in the same frame as the gun-totting security personnel.
Notably, police often ask journalists to leave the encounter sites because the presence of crowds complicates security efforts.
“The risks go beyond personal safety; young reporters may not fully grasp how their actions could affect sensitive operations or public perception. Sharing unverified information online can mislead the public and interfere with security efforts,” says senior journalist with 25 years experience.
Talking to the Kashmir Times about this phenomenon and reporting from sensitive sites, senior journalist Yusuf Jameel said that while anyone can enter journalism, it’s essential to approach it with professionalism and a commitment to quality. Those who uphold these values will succeed, while others may not last long.”
He added that a time will come when people may recognize the challenges of this field, and some may even step away.
Many of them are new to the encounter sites in the Valley, which has witnessed a lull in militancy in recent years.
Accuracy and Ethics
Previously, they could be seen reporting high-profile events, protests, or inane things showcased as ‘breaking news’, triggering debates within journalistic circles about accuracy, ethics, and responsibility.
Now, reporting from the firing line raises much deeper questions about the lack of training and awareness of safety protocols needed in high-risk situations.
The mushrooming growth of untrained journalists in the field is not only a concern for the senior journalists but also for the new and mid-range professionals.
As one of them says, “During my initial years, I learned a lot from my seniors and that helped me. But now this profession is in such a mess that people like me feel lost.”
Citing one example, he says he once covered a protest led by a young man. Weeks later, the same man was seen with a camera covering other events. When such a difference between a professional and an untrained person is blurred, it is discouraging, he says.
Unfiltered Coverage
The trend of untrained reporting has deepened with the rise of social media, where anyone can post content instantly, without verification, accuracy, balance, or sense of proportion.
A journalist with 25 years of experience revealed that if there is a protest involving 10 people, more than 50 people with cameras and phones show up to cover it. Of these, only 8 or 10 are professionals, the rest are untrained journalists, mostly operating on social media. The incident, he says, is often hyped beyond its worth.
All it needs is a camera, often a mobile. No claims made on camera are questioned and no information given is authenticated. Sometimes, the information given makes little sense.
On the Khanyar encounter, an enthusiastic young man reported live for his portal, saying “One militant inside, encounter has trapped inside the house”.
While he was reporting, shocked netizens reacted. One of them commented on social media: “This is an insult to journalism”.
Similar civil society outrage was seen earlier when a boat capsized in the Jhelum River in Gandbal, causing the death of eight people in April 2024.
As rescue operations were on, these self-claimed journalists and influencers flocked to the scene and swooped in on the grieving and anxious family members of those dead and missing, capturing their raw emotions or asking uncomfortable questions.
“How are you feeling about your child being trapped?” they asked of a man. Another asked the wailing women on the Jhelum shore to pose for the photographs.
Many viewed such videos posted on social media as ‘insensitive’. In professional journalism, gaining permission to film or use footage is standard practice, senior journalists say but these youngsters clearly bypassed these boundaries.
The Gandbal tragedy was not an aberration.
A netizen said that it is now quite common for these people to cover funerals of any newsmaker, enter their homes and capture the “grief” and “wails” of the family members live, merely for likes and comments.
Concerns About Journalism’s Future
Such unregulated reporting, says Yusuf Jameel, could cause serious problems in the future.
“We faced similar issues in the past, but now, with the internet anyone can report anything without limits,” he said, making an impassioned plea that there is need to tackle and combat this challenge. Some restrictions, need to be imposed.
Arshid Rasool, Chief Editor of the Daily Gadyal newspaper suggests a more stringent policy – of allowing only mass communication graduates to run news portals.
“Currently, we see tea sellers, shopkeepers managing and working with news portals alongside professionals, which is concerning,” he said, and added, “I am not saying they can’t run news portals, but they should at least know the ethics and standards of journalism.”
Dr Rashid Maqbool (Academician) at the University of Kashmir said the growth of news portals is generally positive, as it brings in diverse viewpoints and adds depth to news coverage.
However, he stressed everyone in journalism must understand the impact of their work, particularly the consequences of mistakes or misinformation.
“Errors from untrained individuals or citizen journalists can harm the entire field’s reputation, leading the public and authorities to question the reliability of journalism,” he said.
‘Citizens Journalism Matters But…’
According to Dr Rashid, trained journalists belong to a community that holds them accountable to certain standards, which helps maintain quality and responsibility in reporting.
In contrast, those without formal training may lack this guidance and may unknowingly make serious mistakes, especially when covering sensitive situations. Rushing into risky areas can put both their safety and the safety of others at risk.
He said that while there is a need to address the issue, he disagreed with Jameel’s suggestion of restricting people from reporting.
Instead, Rashid said, the media industry should establish basic standards for responsible reporting.
“Training could help new or citizen journalists develop a strong sense of responsibility, enabling them to report accurately, respectfully, and safely -ultimately protecting the credibility and safety of journalism,” he said.
Citizen Journalism matters, he averred but it needs a direction.
Many senior journalists agree to this but point out that without clear boundaries, this freedom can lead to misinformation, intrusion on people’s privacy, and increased risks in sensitive situations.
Muzamil Bhat another senior journalist, echoed this sentiment saying, “We’re not here to decide who should or shouldn’t pursue journalism, but it’s essential for journalism graduates to work under senior journalists before venturing into the field,” he said.
“This will improve their skills and help them decide on the type of journalism they want to pursue, he said.”
Peer Viqar Ul Aslam noted that new graduates often prioritize fame over genuine journalism and recommended mentorship to instill essential ethics and skills. He emphasized the need to not just define the role of journalists but also establish standard wages for fair pay.
(The news article has been updated with corrected quotes.)
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