Mudasir Yousuf
Journalism, once considered the backbone of democracy, is slowly crumbling before our eyes in Jammu and Kashmir. What was once a respected profession built on truth, verification, and responsibility has been reduced to a stage where anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection declares themselves a journalist. Today, all it takes is a phone, a Facebook account, and a hunger for views. Sadly, society seems to applaud this performance, regardless of how damaging it may be.
As someone who deeply values the role of genuine journalism, I cannot remain silent while our region’s media landscape gets hijacked by individuals who possess neither the knowledge nor the ethics to carry the title of “journalist.” Without any degree in journalism, without understanding the weight of words, and without adhering to any code of conduct, these so-called reporters spread chaos instead of clarity. They confuse assumptions with facts and believe that breaking news is a race to see who goes live first, rather than who reports the truth best.
There is a proverb that says, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,” and that perfectly describes the present situation. In a sensitive region like ours, where emotions run high and misinformation can ignite fires, untrained reporting is not only reckless—it’s dangerous.
Unfortunately, the situation has now reached a point where even the most private moments of people’s lives are broadcast without consent, merely for the sake of social media engagement. Tragedies are turned into spectacles, and the suffering of ordinary people becomes nothing more than content to fill timelines. There is no respect for privacy, no understanding of responsible coverage, and no consideration of the long-term consequences.
Genuine journalists, who spend years learning the craft and dedicating their lives to balanced, accurate reporting, now find themselves competing with viral videos and clickbait content. Their hard work is often ignored, buried under the noise of sensationalism. “When the drum is loud, the flute is never heard.” The drum of fake journalism is beating louder than ever in Kashmir, and the people who suffer most are the ordinary citizens who are being misled and misinformed.
We must ask ourselves: Where are we headed if this continues? When did truth become less important than trending? When did the ethics of journalism get replaced by the algorithms of social media? More importantly, how long will we tolerate this mockery of a profession that was once considered the fourth pillar of democracy?
It’s time for serious introspection. Journalism is not a hobby; it is a responsibility. It requires knowledge, patience, balance, and, above all, a commitment to the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. Unfortunately, today’s self-styled journalists seem to follow just one rule: “If it goes viral, it must be right.”
As a student and observer of society, I believe it’s high time we differentiate between genuine journalism and this new wave of amateur reporting that serves personal fame over the public good. We must bring back the dignity of journalism, where news is verified, balanced, and presented with responsibility—not rushed online for instant applause. The public, too, has a vital role to play. We must stop blindly believing everything that appears on our screens. We must ask for sources, demand accuracy, and value the difference between responsible reporting and reckless storytelling.
If we lose real journalism, we lose the truth. When the truth is lost, society is left blind.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve better. We deserve facts, not fiction; accountability, not attention-seeking; news, not noise. Let’s restore the profession of journalism to its rightful place before it is too late.
Mudasir Yousuf
Student
Can be reached at: [email protected]
