Journalism students should be prepared to multi-task: Man Aman Singh Chhina

Chandigarh, August 19, 2019: Addressing growing concerns regarding denial of access to journalists, senior journalist Man Aman Singh Chhina discussed what journalism students should look forward to in the field. He was addressing the students of School of Communication Studies at the Panjab University in a special lecture on “Contemporary journalism scenario in India”, organised by the department in its premises.

Teeing off with the delineation between Television, newspapers and the internet, Deputy Editor at the Indian Express, Panchkula, Chhina stressed on the importance of a journalist being able to multitask. He said, “Even at this stage of my career, I not only write stories but take pictures and shoot videos as well”. He added that social media presence is also desirable in the profession.

Speaking on the current scenario where denial of access is controlling the flow of information from Jammu and Kashmir, Chhina expressed concern over the diminishing importance of the Right to Information (RTI) Act as a tool for journalists. However, Chhina said that investigative journalism is the core of the profession and even though it has become a challenge in the “era of handouts”, one must strive to build
his sources and protect the whistleblower at all costs.

Consuming “whatsapp info” without verifying worrisome: Chhina
Chinna expressed his concerns regarding the Whatsapp model of news, wherein not only readers but even many journalists are lapping up information as it is, without going into the field and verifying it. He thus encouraged the students to go out in the filed and concentrate on the leg work for each story as it will make them stand out.

The senior journalist however, said that social media has introduced an important system of checks and balances for journalists. “Audience- journalist interface allows the reader to freely express his views, thus keeping the journalist on his toes”, he added. He signed off by asking the students to sharpen their observational and questioning skills and to practice adversarial journalism.