The role of the fourth pillar of democracy has been in the realms of discussion, including what its role should be. The press as the fourth pillar, like other pillars, also welcomes constructive criticism from consumers of news which is even necessary because the press serves the people, who pay to be informed.
A responsible and people-oriented press takes this criticism from the people as gifts for improvement to play its role as democracy’s fourth pillar and never takes it as an attempt to undermine any other pillar but constructively improves it.
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From the beginning of time, the relationship and the equation between the press and the government or the ruling class has been one of coexistence as different from an alliance. By coexistence, one means that these two pillars of democracy, the executive and the press have remained standing by performing their own role along with the legislature and the judiciary.
While the executive is the choice of the people, the press is the voice of the people. And when the choice doesn’t deliver, the voice must make itself heard. So, their two roles and the reason for their co-existence are very clear.
It’s a relationship of equals. It’s not a give-and-take relationship. The government or the institution of the State cannot be a giver and the media cannot be a taker of benefits of any sort which is otherwise not available to the general public. Because the press does not offer its services to the government, but to its readers.
Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has very rightly recognised the press as the fourth pillar of democracy and accepted the role of the press to offer constructive criticism. This understanding is good for democracy as both the government and press can independently do their roles for democracy and the growth of the state, one as the choice of the people and the other as the voice of the people. A government willing to take constructive criticism will ultimately be able to deliver for the people by being close to their hopes and aspirations.
But it is important that the press functions as a free independent pillar to allow the greater common good to happen to the people.
The pen can never write if it is a government beneficiary
The press, therefore, cannot be a recipient of benefits like free government accommodation, laptops, or in some states, vehicles for trips booked by the Depart of Information and publicity. A criterion can be established to make banks offer special loan schemes for housing and professional upgradation at minimal levels of interest for professionally creative people including journalists.
But government accommodation on minimal rents with no added pressure for delayed payments or no payments given to journalists and even to those who aren’t full-time professional journalists, more on social media than media.
A critic of the government is therefore not an enemy of the State
Then the relationship changes from that of equals to that of a giver and a taker and an independent press cannot do its job for the people if it’s a taker of government benefits.
The pen cannot write if it is a government beneficiary
The press, by extension also serves the land i.e., the State where it is distributed and by extension, the country. Therefore, justified criticism of the government is not a criticism of the country, because the government is an institution that is one of the main arms that services the country. It’s not the country or the State.
When The Washinton Post’s Watergate Investigation led to the fall of American President Nixon, the newspaper was lauded by the same America
We all know that one of the best examples of breakthrough journalism was the investigation into the Watergate scandal by The Washington Post, in 1972, which led to the resignation of US President Richard Nixon. The “Watergate” investigation was on the Nixon administration’s continual attempts to cover up its involvement in the June 17, 1972 break-in of their rival Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Washington Watergate office building and a voice taping system of that office that connected to the President’s Oval office. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were The Washington Post’s reporters who led the investigation and series of reports.
President Nixon resigned before he could be impeached. The investigation won The Washinton Post, not just the highest award in journalism the Pulitzer prize in various categories but a host of other awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award to its Executive Editor Benjamin Bradlee.
When The Washington Post’s Watergate Investigation led to the fall of American President Nixon, the newspaper was lauded by same America for its contribution to the country. Here the image of America was heightened not lowered even though the wrongdoings of the government were highlighted.
Their reports which brought down their President for his wrongdoing were not at the cost of America’s image. In fact, it did America proud to showcase its independent and free press.
A critic of the government is therefore not an enemy of the State. The government has its job to do. The press has its job to do. And along with the legislature and the judiciary, all four pillars are custodians of the State and partners in nation-building.
The press meanwhile, answers to only one master, each time and every time- the people, and is on test each day, to meet their expectations, in a strong democracy.
That is, and has to be, its only job- to inform, report, analyze, guide, and be a platform for debate and discussions for a better society, state, and country, for its citizens.
