The Not-So-Stately State Of The Fourth Estate

The state of the fourth estate in Bhutan, it can be safely said is ‘not good.’

And behind those lines stand an array of mainstream and stray events that have stuck to becoming a leech for the industry that has visibly downgraded in areas of ‘keeping the faith’ as in maintaining quality journalism or upholding the truth.

The growth of media in Bhutan was and is parallel to the growth of democracy as both started more or less from the same springboard.

While the journey for the democratic institution can be wrapped up in changing governments and parliamentarians, the journey has been by far more eventful and tempestuous for the media.

Fast forward through the trails of yester years to date, and one cannot simply avoid the stark changes. The media that started full steam and guns blazing is now more or less operating on fumes and almost running on empty.

Well, those are just semantics; the picture as is visible showcases a starving private media downsizing on employees, office structures, and eventually and most veritably on the quality of journalism.

Many may say, there is no better motivation then money, Well, for one this has come to bear undeniably true life situations in the media where offices (especially in the private print media) have initially struggled to make payments to their respective employees and then eventually failed for months to eventually do the needful.

Consequentially, many have left the roost for better jobs (read non-media) or at least places where monthly salary is paid monthly. Many among those who have left have been senior and experienced editors and reporters.

So then, it seems the issue to be faced is entirely ‘financial’ and financial alone for it is been agreed among many that the only censorship in practicing the trade has only come from oneself.

A simple household truth in prevalence may also pinpoint to the understanding that at present, media is not really a ‘good place.’ It is being said, parents, mentors, and seniors do not point their children or wards in the direction of the media.

And there is quite the disapproval expressed in their ‘lectures’ to those may have entered the media industry in its one form or the other.

Government on its part has not been entirely silent on its part to lend an ear to the issue and it has been quite accommodating by putting in place media foundations and agencies to facilitate problem-solving ideas.

One form of its help came as the numerous trainings that were conducted for the human resources in the media pool. But more numbers have only been added to the said ‘unhappy’ pool as they wallow in the existing conditions. But there is also the understanding that media itself has not been able to effectively answer the government’s question of ‘what can we do for you?’

For now, it looks like more of the experienced lot is on their way out while respective media houses adapt to individual tactics of cost-cutting by hiring fresh graduates to serve as reporters and editors.

Market forces dictate ‘only the best survives.’ In this case, it is not very reassuring that the ‘best’ may exclude the entire private media. And if the elements of a build-up to a healthy and strong democratic institution is anywhere in consideration, this development is sincerely not healthy.

Published as Editorial for Business Bhutan June 07, 2014