Recalling a time when journalism was widely respected, when journalists reporting from Afghanistan in the 90鈥檚 could mark their vehicles as press and be considered off-limits, Steve Coll, journalist and dean of the Columbia Journalism School acknowledged he was fortunate to be of a generation of correspondents who weren鈥檛 the target. 鈥淭hat concept has completely vanished鈥� he told the IPI . 鈥淐ombatants and leaders alike no longer need the press to tell their story, they use social media to do it themselves鈥�.
Coll was in conversation with founding editor of Siddharth Varadarajan about journalism under their respective populist leaders: Indian Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump.
For Varadarajan, Modi has a smarter approach than Trump. 鈥淚t鈥檚 rare to find statements by Modi against the media, he assigns that role to others,鈥� he said. The Indian Prime Minister addressed his 5 years after assuming office.
鈥淚 think that if Trump was reelected for another 4 years, we would start seeing similar things to what鈥檚 happening in India,鈥� said Coll, 鈥渢he link between attacks on journalists and the president鈥檚 incitement against them is disturbing,鈥� he continued, referencing the that was sent to the CNN by a Trump supporter in 2018.
FAKE NEWS – THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
According to Coll, Trump is a 鈥渃reature of the media,鈥� with fame being one of his most profitable businesses. 鈥淚 think Americans have a sense for the subtleties in his performances, but the problem is when the language he uses lands in other countries where there is an even greater impunity for attacking the press and authoritarians who seek to muzzle it and make sure no one holds them accountable鈥�. Coll went on to say Trump has done enormous damage to the constitution, 鈥減articularly to the function of the press – and even greater harm by normalizing incitement and allowing authoritarians worldwide to do that same鈥�.
Frivolous litigation a pressure tactic
While there is real danger for journalists in India, with 3 journalists killed for their work since the beginning of the year, there are other tactics used to silence journalists.
If there is one thing Varadarajan does not like to see in the office, it鈥檚 鈥渢he postman delivering fat bundles of court papers, connoting that somebody has gone and filed a defamation case against us and will tie us down with frivolous litigation.鈥�
It is not the fear of incarceration or a day in court that concerns Varadarajan, but rather the understanding that preparing the necessary legal responses forces The Wire staff to waste time and money they do not have. 鈥淭he form that pressure on the media takes in India, is to tie you down with legal procedure.鈥�
Culture of Impunity
鈥淎uthoritarians and their allies know that they won鈥檛 face any consequences, neither in national nor international justice systems, for violently silencing the press,鈥� stated Coll. 鈥淚n the international system, the only accountability is naming, shaming, and advocacy.鈥�
But Varadarajan believes global coverage does have some positive impact. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not only the press suffering at the hands of autocrats,鈥� he said 鈥渂ut also academics, writers and even students who are being trolled by private individuals as the public-sphere becomes more viscous.鈥� Varadarajan said this creates a chilling effect with a wide impact, and that 鈥渁cts of global solidarity and honest reportage do play a role. When you鈥檙e under pressure and organizations issue statements all over the world, it does a lot for morale鈥�.
Journalism Can (Still) Move the Needle
鈥淒espite polarization in society, the media can still play a role in holding powerful individuals accountable, even in the Trump administration鈥� said Coll, citing 2017 reveal which forced the of Health Secretary Tom Price. While questions regarding trust in the media, its financial future and digitization impact may arise, Coll believes the right question is whether or not 鈥渢he press can carry out its constitutional function of making the impact of governmental policies transparent to the public鈥�.
Varadarajan agreed that 鈥渨e have to stick to the rules and what our profession is all about, which is objectivity, factuality and accuracy. We see too much opinion mongering disguised as news – people are fed up with that. I believe the public will recognize media platforms that don鈥檛 meld editorial opinion with news coverage.鈥�
Coll and Varadarajan also stressed that alongside safeguarding the ethics of journalists, it is important for journalists to work in organizations that protect them as well. 鈥淪tand your ground and pick your battles,鈥� advised Varadarajan and Coll added that 鈥渘o story is worth dying for鈥�.
This International Press Institute session entitled 鈥淲hen Journalism is at Work, not at War鈥�, was moderated by contributing editor of Anita Pratap on September 29.