JOURNALISM IN AN EMERGING POWER: HOW THE ROLES OF JOURNALISTS ARE EVOLVING IN INDIA A Project Presented to the Graduate Faculty at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Journalism by KEVIN DUBOUIS Professor Jacqui Banaszynski, Committee Chair Professor Tim Vos Professor Barbara Cochran Professor Fritz Cropp MAY 2014 Acknowledgments: This paper is dedicated to all journalists and friends who have been directly or indirectly a part of the project and who continue to make diligent efforts to make known to the world many untold stories. They have truly inspired me. I am deeply indebted to my supervisor, Prof. Jacqui Banaszynski, for her vision that kept me focused on pertinent questions, and the three other members of my supervising committee, Professors Tim Vos, Barbara Cochran and Fritz Cropp, for their help and patience. I would like to thank everybody at Al Jazeera America who made my internship an extraordinary learning experience and contributed to shaping the young journalist I am today. I will always be grateful to my family for their love and immense support. As I am completing this degree, my emotions and thoughts go directly to my mother and grandmother who have allowed me to pursue my passion for journalism on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. I know it has been difficult for them to see me leave the nest. Finally, I want to remember my grandfather who taught me the importance of critical thinking at an early age. I hope I make him proud. ii Table of Contents Chapter One: Introduction………………………………………………….......….....p. 1-3 Chapter Two: Weekly Field Notes……...…………………………………..…........p. 4-67 Chapter Three: Evaluation and Lessons Learned…………………...…...….……..p. 68-71 On-site Supervisor Evaluation…………………….…………………..………p. 72 Chapter Four: Physical Evidence……………………………………...……..........p. 73-97 Chapter Five. Professional Analysis Article……………………………………...p. 98-123 Appendices…….………………………………………………...……….......…p. 124-302 Project Proposal……………………………………………………..…..p. 125-159 Introduction……………...……...………………………..…p. 128-132 Professional Skills Component…………….......…….….…..p. 133-139 Theoretical Framework……………….....………..…..….….p. 140-144 Literature Review……………………...………...………….p. 145-148 Professional Analysis Questions………………...……………….p. 149 Methods…………………..………...…………...……….….p. 150-153 Potential Publications…………………...…………………..……p. 154 iii Conclusion.…………………………... …………...…...………..p. 155 References…………………………………………......……p. 156-159 Interview Transcripts………………...………………...………………..p. 160-162 Yogesh Pawar …………………………….…………….......p. 161-199 Colleen Braganza………………....……………………..…..p. 200-228 Sunita Aron ……………………….…………………...…....p. 229-254 Sandeep Pai…………………………….…...…………...…..p. 255-281 Meena Menon…………...………………...………...………p. 282-289 Abhinay Dey………………..………………………....…….p. 290-296 Aditya Sinha……………………………….….……….……p. 297-302 iv Chapter One: Introduction After interning for an Indian newspaper in Mumbai between May and August 2013, it was important for me to understand how my colleagues and other experienced journalists were navigating the emergence and sustenance of India’s democracy. Because we often take for granted the ethics and the rules of journalistic trade in the West, I wanted to hear the stories of the ones who are still exploring a different model of journalism and doing so with an admirable passion and intense struggle. During my internship in India, I realized that the approaches and ethical practices I was taught in the U.S., at the Missouri School of Journalism, were difficult to apply in the Indian context. In comparison to the value system associated with data collection and presentation largely accepted in the U.S., reporting in India has veered toward obtaining information at any cost and through any source. The reasons? On one hand, Indian journalists have seen their profession become a very competitive business where the ends are more important than the means. With the commercialization of the media, sensationalism and irresponsibility have crept into Indian journalism and often overtake ethicality. On the other hand, Indian journalists have experienced direct and indirect sources of pressure against free press. In the process of uncovering scams and abuses or simply criticizing the government’s failure to translate popular support into effective policies, Indian journalists have been gagged and threatened by politicians and powerful businesspeople. My internship in India allowed me to meet many brilliant journalists, explore the environment in which they work, and ask them questions about their struggles and 1 aspirations. This exposure to Indian journalism not only made me feel confident about what I had learned in school but also reinforced my value system. As opportunities were offered to me, I also visited a few journalism schools and interacted with students during panel discussions. These exchanges were valuable to me as a young journalist and encouraged me to ask more questions about the evolution of Indian journalism. For this, I interviewed seven Indian journalists about how they perceive their role in India’s current political and economic climate, what challenges they face and what purpose they think journalism needs to serve in the emerging democracy. You can read my conclusion in Chapter Five. But before you go on, I wanted to tell you why I really care about this project. Conversing with these journalists was a way for me to reflect on why I care so much about news and why I am getting ready to commit my life to journalism. I strongly believe that knowing what is happening around us is the first step to solve the big and wicked problems of this world. I am also confident that if journalists are able to reflect on the key issues behind these problems and engage people around them, changes will happen. I know it’s going to be a long and hard road to connect with under-privileged and under-informed communities, but if a set of people care to know what’s happening in the world, I think we are on the good path. My generation speaks different languages, is better connected to the rest of the world and aspires to make the world a better place. At my level and as a journalist, I want to help the next generation to acquire the necessary knowledge and develop the adequate skills to better understand the realities and mechanisms of our societies. In fact, in the 2 future, there will be an even greater need to build connections and communities around the world and commit to social issues. We, journalists, can assure the circulation of the information across the world, raise awareness about existing problems, shed light on key issues for the future and narrow the gaps between geographies, opportunities and outcomes. This is why I want to become a journalist. This is what the Indian journalists I interviewed want to accomplish in their country. 3 Chapter Two: Weekly Field Notes I could not have imagined a better internship to finish my formal education. Every day was a new challenge, but it was a challenge that an entire newsroom was ready to overcome together. I spent 14 weeks, between January 16 and May 25, 2014, working with the producers and correspondents of Al Jazeera America’s flagship show America Tonight. I have witnessed how these journalists have been fighting for their stories because they truly believe in what they do and know the importance of it. I felt blessed to be around such experienced professionals who, at the end of the day, contribute to make this place a little better. Initially, I was assigned to work with the senior executive producers in researching and developing long-form stories for the show. After a month, I took on more responsibilities and assisted the pre- and post-production of stories I had pitched. As I became more familiar with the work environment, I was sent in the field with the TV crew, often spending hours out to get the perfect shot. Later in the internship, I offered to write articles for the Web to broaden my experience with the digital world. It was such an interesting time to be at Al Jazeera America, which was launched in August 2013. During my internship, I saw how the managers have been shaping the channel’s identity; I celebrated the program’s first awards; and I experienced the network’s first layoff. Although my internship took much of my time, I also dedicated several hours of my week to interview the Indian journalists I wanted to feature in my master’s project. Because of the time difference with India, I would often do these interviews after a 10- 4 hour shift through 3 a.m. To be honest, I often wanted to give up because of the exhaustion. And yet, every time I would listen to the stories of these journalists who have already greatly contributed to this world, I felt even more determined to pursue my project. In addition to my internship and master’s project, I attended a series of 10 conferences organized on Fridays by onsite Prof. Barbara Cochran. Guest speakers varied from media lawyer to press secretary and journalists to lobbyists. It was a great introduction to the city of Washington, D.C., and a good opportunity to network within the worlds of media and politics. Below are my weekly field notes detailing my experiences, surprises and frustrations throughout the semester. Thank you for reading! 5 Field Note – Week 1 (January 27, 2014) Goals: - Settle down in Washington, D.C. - Become familiar with my new work environment and establish contact with Al Jazeera producers