The Demise of ‘Ethical Reporting’ in Kashmir: A Saga of Social-media Journalism, Personal Feuds & Sheer Sensationalism

Umer Rashid

In Kashmir, a grim reality pervades the realm of reporting, particularly in the era of social-media, especially Facebook, journalism. Once revered for its commitment to truth and accountability, journalism in Kashmir now teeters on the brink of irrelevance, overshadowed by the rise of sensationalism and personal conflicts that dominate social media platforms.

Social-media journalism, a term that encapsulates the modern-day phenomenon of news dissemination through online media, has become both a blessing and a curse for Kashmiri society. While it has democratized access to information, it has also diluted journalistic standards, leading to a proliferation of sensationalist content at the expense of factual reporting.

The traditional role of journalists as watchdogs of society has been usurped by a culture where personal feuds and trivial disputes take precedence over meaningful news coverage. Instead of focusing on pressing issues, social-media journalists often find themselves embroiled in the petty conflicts of individuals, whether it’s disputes between siblings or neighborhood quarrels.

This shift in focus has come at the expense of the main motive of news – to inform and educate the public about matters of significance. The once noble pursuit of truth has been replaced by a relentless pursuit of clicks and views, with social-media journalists resorting to sensationalism and clickbait tactics to garner attention.

Moreover, the advent of social-media journalism has blurred the lines between privacy and public interest, as social-media journalists exploit personal tragedies and private grievances for the sake of engagement. The invasion of privacy knows no bounds, with cameras thrust into the faces of grieving families and intimate details of individuals’ lives laid bare for public consumption.

The irony of the situation is not lost on observers – while social-media journalists exploit personal conflicts and tragedies for views, the audience, too, plays a complicit role in perpetuating this culture of sensationalism. Entranced by the allure of gossip and scandal, they passively consume content that panders to their basest instincts, forsaking substantive news in favor of voyeuristic entertainment.

In this environment, the true victims are the principles of ethical reporting and the public’s right to accurate information. As consumers become increasingly desensitized to sensationalist content, the demand for substantive journalism diminishes, leaving behind a void that is increasingly filled with trivialities and personal vendettas.

Yet, amidst the gloom, there remains a glimmer of hope – a hope that the people of Kashmir will awaken to the corrosive effects of sensationalism and demand better from their media. Only then can the descent into darkness be halted, and the flame of ethical reporting reignited in the valleys of Kashmir.

The author can be reached at umerrashid44@gmail.com