By Rameez Bhat
In Kashmir, where words carry immense weight and a single sentence can change the course of public discourse, journalism has traditionally been more than just a career — it has been a vital instrument of truth, a reflection of society’s conscience, and sometimes, a battleground for narratives. But lately, an unsettling shift has taken hold. The microphone, once a symbol of trained responsibility, is now easily accessible to anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection. Formal education, ethical grounding, and professional training have taken a back seat. The region is witnessing a flood of self-proclaimed journalists who lack even the most basic qualifications but speak with authority and unearned conviction, often spreading misinformation and confusion.
The era of journalists being trained rigorously, learning under veteran editors, and gaining field experience is fading. In its place has emerged a generation of individuals who, with no grasp of journalistic principles or legal boundaries, consider themselves reporters by merely launching a social media page or a YouTube channel. They rush to every incident with their mics and cameras, making dramatic statements, interviewing victims, and speculating on crimes — all under the illusion of ‘citizen journalism.’ But being a concerned citizen is very different from being a journalist. The former is driven by emotion, while the latter demands education and responsibility.
While the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, it does not give anyone the right to spread falsehoods, create communal disharmony, or emotionally exploit a vulnerable society. Kashmir, already burdened by political turmoil and emotional volatility, needs responsible journalism now more than ever. But what we often witness instead is reckless reporting by those unfamiliar with fundamental practices like verifying facts, maintaining neutrality, protecting identities, or distinguishing between opinion and factual reporting.
Simply possessing a microphone doesn’t make one a journalist — just as holding a stethoscope doesn’t make one a doctor, or yelling in court doesn’t make one a lawyer. The danger of this false equivalence is real. Many of these unqualified individuals end up interfering in police investigations, misrepresenting events, or even provoking social unrest through misleading or exaggerated content. With no editors to guide them and no ethical frameworks to follow, they act as unchecked agents of chaos. Their content reaches thousands, but their accountability reaches no one.
This wave of amateur journalism has done serious damage to the credibility of professional media in Kashmir. Veteran journalists who have spent years building trust now find themselves grouped with self-styled influencers and vloggers. The public, overwhelmed with contradicting versions of the same story, grows skeptical. Truth is no longer sacred — it’s often bent to suit trends, gain followers, or push personal agendas. The chase for online popularity has replaced the pursuit of honest storytelling.
Even more troubling is the misuse of journalism as a tool for personal benefit. Some use the press label to gain access to powerful figures, enjoy privileges, or coerce others. There have been instances where these so-called journalists, without any formal education, have used their platforms to defame individuals, extort businesses, or settle old grudges. Without any professional accountability, they are driven only by views, likes, and ego. This kind of corruption not only undermines public trust but also endangers the safety and dignity of innocent people.
The solution is not to silence voices but to restore standards. Journalism needs to be a regulated field, where a basic qualification like a diploma or degree in mass communication is essential. Those already in the profession but lacking academic background should be encouraged to attend certification courses, workshops, or training sessions. Journalist associations and press bodies in Kashmir must enforce stricter entry rules, ensuring only qualified individuals are recognized. Government agencies, too, must tighten procedures for issuing press credentials. Tech platforms should work to identify and restrict misleading content dressed up as journalism.
Education institutions across Kashmir must also expand journalism programs that go beyond theory. Students should be equipped with real-world experience, ethical understanding, and media literacy. They must be taught that journalism is not just about breaking news — it’s about handling truth with care, respecting boundaries, and serving the public good. Without this foundation, the media risks becoming a source of confusion rather than clarity.
The microphone is a powerful symbol — it can amplify suppressed voices, challenge power structures, and narrate the stories that matter. But when misused, it distorts reality, deepens divisions, and misleads society. In Kashmir, where every word carries the potential to influence emotions and decisions, allowing untrained voices to dominate journalism is dangerous. True journalism isn’t something one claims by picking up a mic — it’s a responsibility earned through learning, ethics, and experience.
The freedom to speak is sacred, but it must be paired with the discipline to speak wisely. When journalism becomes a stage for untrained performers, it loses its credibility and moral compass. It turns into drama instead of duty, a show rather than a service. And in that transformation, it betrays the very public it was meant to inform and protect.
Kashmir deserves better — journalism that is honest, intelligent, and ethically grounded. Journalism that values truth over trends and substance over spectacle. A mic in the hand without a degree is more than a personal gap — it is a danger to collective trust and social harmony. In the world of journalism, especially in a place as sensitive as Kashmir, knowledge isn’t optional — it’s the very foundation. Because in the end, a loud voice without wisdom is just noise. And noise, no matter how viral, can never substitute for truth.
, and summers have intensified and become drier. Glaciers are melting at a rate that is nothing short of alarming, with some estimates suggesting as much as 0.5 meters annually. Spring comes earlier than usual, and rainfall is becoming spasmodic, leading to flash floods one day and weeks of unending dryness the next. The apple belt of the region is creeping up in altitude, while traditional crops such as saffron are being plagued by unpredictable weather.
