There was a time when we could strut around town saying we are journalists. And now? That swagger has kinda gone. And in fact one is a tad understated about our profession. So, we expressed our predicament to Dr Bhaskar Das, and this is how he responded in the January 6, 2021 edition of Das ka Dum. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. Suddenly calling oneself a journalist has become a liability, because of the disrepute that is said to have been brought to the profession. How do you think should a journalist describe herself/himself now?

A. No, no. I can’t agree with your postulation. Journalism is a divine profession. If there are some black sheep, one can’t paint the whole community with the same brush. Who would show us the path from amongst the labyrinth of so-called facts? The surfeit of information and the all-pervasive social media have only accentuated the need for indepth content. The weaponisation of information has its own attraction but quality content has still got a market. And who can contribute to it other than the journalists? So have Pride in your profession. I salute the community.