Indian journalism has always been weak on ethics

Lobbying and trying to fix important government decisions by influencing ministers is what happens sometimes in Indian journalism. However, journalists with high credibility from reputed news organisations are not the ones identified with such power-play. The Radia-gate episode has, therefore, come as a shocker as it has exposed the questionable entanglements of iconic journalists such as Vir Sanghvi and Barkha Dutt. The nation’s intelligentsia ought to feel obliged to them for unwittingly provoking a debate on ethics in Indian journalism — or rather, the lack of it.

A non-issue in the telecom scam has taken centre-stage only because Barkha and Vir are celebrity-journalists. They have emerged in extremely poor light in their telephonic conversations with lobbyist Niira Radia, which were reportedly tapped by the tax department in 2008 and 2009.  Brought to light by Outlook and Open magazines, these conversations are part of a public interest petition in the Supreme Court on the 2G spectrum scam, raising fundamental questions about integrity in Indian journalism.

Vir and Barkha have vehemently denied professional misconduct and have described their conversations as “stringing the source” to extract information. In the taped conversations, Vir Sanghvi, on more that one occasion, sounds more like a lobbyist than a journalist. Barkha also crosses the line when, during the 2009 Congress-DMK talks on government formation, she is heard asking DMK MP Kanimozhi, “Oh God. So now what? What should I tell them (Congress)? Tell me what should I tell them?”

Can editors be expected to work in public interest when they join political parties and serve as members of Parliament? Should well-paid senior journalists and editors be allowed to become  beneficiaries of “10% flats” under government quota? (The fact is that such flats come after hard lobbying by journalists.)
It is a pity that most news organisations in India do not have — and don’t enforce — a Code of Conduct for journalists. The Washington Post’s Deskbook on Style begins with a chapter on Standards and Ethics by the legendary Ben Bradlee, who as the Post editor for 26 years helped expose the Watergate scam.  Bradlee is firm when he advises: “We avoid active involvement in any partisan causes — politics, community affairs, social action, demonstrations —  that could compromise or seem to compromise our ability to report and edit fairly.”

In a 2006 interview on journalist ethics, Bradlee had a word of caution for celebrity-journalists: “The danger is that these guys begin to look more important than they are and they think they’re more important than they are…” In the 1960s, Bradlee’s proximity to president John F Kennedy was stuff that journalists fantasise about — Kennedy was actually his friend and neighbour. And yet, Bradlee did not compromise in his primary role. “The experience of having a friend run for president of the US is unexpected, fascinating, and exciting for anyone. For a newspaperman, it is all that, plus confusing: are you a friend or are you a reporter.?” Bradlee says in his autobiography A Good Life: Newspapering and other adventures.

There are many examples of journalistic integrity in India too, but more as exceptions than the norm. The fact that the Indian news media is at least beginning to discuss the contours of professional conduct is a matter of joy in itself. In a sense, haven’t we come a long way from our strategic fixation on Page 3 journalism?