Baba Umar
Just after pulling out myself from the hall where Nayeem Akhter, Secretary Tourism Department, had called for a press conference, I felt embarrassed at myself for not being answered by the speaker to one of my query. Reason: the total hijack of the event by the lensmen who stand tall in the front row. And I should not be wronged to call them “Hacks”. Why “Hacks”, because they lack journalism ethics and the much needed competence. The moral code of news gathering, particularly in the press conferences, is not being properly followed by these “Hacks”. And hence the total cessation of important information that people like me can draw out from the orators.
Just after pulling out myself from the hall where Nayeem Akhter, Secretary Tourism Department, had called for a press conference, I felt embarrassed at myself for not being answered by the speaker to one of my query. Reason: the total hijack of the event by the lensmen who stand tall in the front row. And I should not be wronged to call them “Hacks”. Why “Hacks”, because they lack journalism ethics and the much needed competence. The moral code of news gathering, particularly in the press conferences, is not being properly followed by these “Hacks”. And hence the total cessation of important information that people like me can draw out from the orators.
Before such meets, cameramen surround the speakers with their mammoth-sized tripods and wide cameras on the very front row, forming an arc that prevents scribes to note down anything—and hence not leaving an inch for the reporters who have to sit far behind the barricade formed by these “Hacks”.
Today I could see a renowned scribe of the valley who covered Gulf War, totally helpless and perplexed. He had to wade through several rows to have an eye contact with the speaker at the press conference. Shooting his poser over the head of a lensman, he, I could gauge, felt screwed up with camerapersons.
And before the organisers could wrap up the press conference, a gush from the front row thudded to rock the tables that had on it delicious freebies. It seemed as if they were hungry for several months. And then followed a complete choas.
I talked to a local channel cameraperson about why they occupy the front row leaving our notepads dry and clean. The reply came in a stingy manner, “We too have to do our job,” he said. “We find it difficult to focus on the subject from the back row.” And this tells the lack of their professional approach towards newsgathering. Hope in the next gathering, such camerapersons would cover the event after having proper tuitions from their bosses.
No comments:
Post a Comment