Deepika Singh Rajawat, the lawyer who had represented the family of the eight-year-old girl who was raped and murdered at Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, has called upon the media to uphold ethical journalism and desist from sensationalism.
She was delivering the Vakkom Abdul Khader Moulavi commemorative lecture on ‘Freedom while Reporting’ under the aegis of the Kerala Media Academy and the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club on Friday. The programme also marked the culmination of the National Newspaper Week observance.
Ms. Rajawat, who had begun her career as a journalist before enrolling as a lawyer, urged the media to introspect on the manner in which the industry functioned and the direction it was headed. “A basic tenet of journalism — to ascertain facts before publication — is often overlooked these days. There is scant regard for facts. We must take a stand against media outlets that propagate false information to further the propaganda of political parties or communal groups,” she said.
Ever since she drew limelight towards the Kathua case, Ms. Rajawat has been receiving death threats. Though she was recently removed from the case, the lawyer stands firm on her resolve to “fight for the unheard.” “I did not think twice before taking up the case. I was portrayed as being against my community. Despite being citizens of the same country, we have come to be identified by our faith. The country is going through a difficult phase. Conscious attempts are being made to brand activists as anti-nationals,” she said.
Khashoggi’s case
Media critic Sebastian Paul called upon journalists to uphold the element of dissent, which was a key aspect of the profession. “Journalists must learn to disagree with governments and corporate firms. One could imbibe lessons from the life of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi who did not hesitate to criticise the policies of his country, though his actions posed a threat to his life,” Mr. Paul said.
Kerala Media Academy chairman R.S. Babu said the institution would establish its sub-centre in the State capital. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would inaugurate the facility in Thiruvananthapuram on December 4, he said.
Kerala Union of Working Journalists State president Kamal Varadoor, Thiruvananthapuram Press Club secretary M. Radhakrishnan, journalists M. Sarita Varma, Saritha S. Balan and Sneha Mary Koshy spoke on the occasion.