‘Struggles define the values you live by and, ultimately, who you are’

The dastardly killing in Srinagar of Shujaat Bukhari, veteran journalist and editor of the Rising Kashmir newspaper has stunned the media fraternity. Bukhari was The Hindu’s correspondent in Srinagar from 1997 to 2012. From the reports that have appeared and the articles written by those who knew him well, it is clear that Bukhari’s was a voice of moderation and sanity in a world that for years hasn’t seen peace. Why are journalists who are bravely doing their job being targeted in this fashion? Numbed as we are by the shock of such deaths, we seem to find no answer or solution that will help us overcome such dangerous odds. And such danger is badly affecting journalists in many parts of the world. There is a sense of fear and a pall of gloom. However, many are battling it out, continuing to report without fear or favour.

Maria Ressa is one such journalist. The co-founder, CEO and executive editor of the online news site, Rappler, was recently awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom, WAN-IFRA’s annual press freedom award. The award recognises Ressa’s “unwavering commitment to the values of a free press, as well as her determination to continue exposing stories of vital importance for democracy in the Philippines amidst intense pressure from the government and its supporters”.

This is some of what Ressa said during her acceptance speech: “You don’t really know who you are until you’re forced to fight to defend it. Then every battle you win – or lose … every compromise you choose to make … or to walk away from … all these struggles define the values you live by and, ultimately, who you are. When a lie is repeated 10 times, Truth has a chance to catch up … but when it’s repeated a million times, it becomes the Truth – especially when it’s backed by online state-sponsored hate exploiting the fracture lines of society. So how do we survive? We look for solutions. In the long term, it’s education. Medium-term, media literacy. In the short term, investigative journalism…”

Ressa’s words will no doubt boost the morale of journalists and inspire them to keep going. More power to her and others like her.

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