Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Govt. College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar organised a panel discussion under the theme ‘Salvaging Professional Journalism Space’ on 5th May 2025.
The panelists included Dr. Raashid Maqbool, Assistant Professor, Media Education Research Centre, University of Kashmir; Ms. Shahana Butt, Correspondent/ Producer at Press TV and Ms. Naveed Iqbal, Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. The event was held at the college conference hall and was attended by students from various batches of PG, IG and UG programmes of journalism besides the faculty members of the department.
In her Welcome Address, worthy Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Yasmeen Farooq referred to the multifaceted crisis of professionalism in journalism. She said two of the panelists happen to be proud alumna of the college and as the college celebrates its 75 years
“Social media has blurred the lines between professional journalism and citizen journalism, making it challenging to distinguish between credible and non-credible sources. Unqualified individuals are presenting themselves as journalists, often prioritizing sensationalism over fact-based reporting. The pursuit of clicks and views has led to sensationalized reporting, compromising journalistic integrity and accuracy,” Prof. Yasmeen said.
She said the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation has eroded public trust in journalism, making it essential to reclaim the profession’s credibility.
“The crisis of professionalism undermines the work of dedicated, professional journalists who adhere to ethical standards. The spread of false information can have serious consequences, including the manipulation of public opinion and the erosion of democratic institutions. By addressing these challenges, we can work towards salvaging the professional journalism space and restoring public trust in the media,” Prof. Yasmeen added.
She referred to the possible solutions to such problems including media literacy whereby public can be educated on how to critically evaluate information and sources. “Infact, just last week, we hosted a Media Literacy Workshop for our faculty members with exactly the same objectives,” she added.
Referring to panel discussion format chosen for the event, Prof. Yasmeen said such events are testament to our college’s commitment to fostering critical thinking and debate.
Prof. Yasmeen expressed gratitude to the panelists for sharing their time and expertise with the students and hoped that the discussion would yield valuable takeaways for the participants.
The programme spanned three sessions. The first session was dedicated to the opening remarks by each panelist in which they defined and contextualized professional journalism. The experts shared their own experiences and insights from news industry and even academia.
The second and main session was dedicated to the Panel Discussion in which the panelists discussed the myriad challenges being posed to professional journalism and suggested various strategies to maintain professional integrity.
It was followed by the Question & Answer session with participant students and faculty members posing queries and seeking examples, elaborations and clarifications from the experts.
The panelists spoke about the current trends and future prospects in news industry. They referred to the changing audience needs and preferences. More importantly, they suggested the tips and skills to thrive in a rapidly changing media landscape.
In the concluding session, the panelists shared their final thoughts on the theme before taking questions from the participants.
Earlier, while introducing the theme of the programme, Head, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Dr. Suhail Ahmad sought to contexualise the event citing the concern voiced by students, media educators and journalists about non-professionals masquerading as journalists and encroaching on the space meant for journalists.
While spelling out the objectives of the programme, Dr. Suhail flagged the sensationalistic content and delivery being peddled in the name of news.
“However, while we lament the current state of journalism, we must look to leverage our core strengths, the core principles of our profession to salvage or recover that lost space which we are so concerned about,” he added.
Dr. Suhail underlined the importance of individual initiative in journalism. “While formal education provides a foundation, it is the individual student’s effort to stay curious, read widely, and develop their skills that ultimately shapes their journalism career,” he added.
He flagged the concern about students not reading enough these days. “Reading is essential for developing critical thinking, analytical skills, and a broad knowledge base – all crucial for effective journalism. By acknowledging these requirements, students can take ownership of their learning and professional development,” Dr. Suhail added.
The guest speakers were felicitated by the Principal on the occasion. The Vote of Thanks was presented by Assistant Professor, Ms. Sadaf Bushra. Dr.Nazia and Dr. Naseema were the rapporteurs of the programme while Dr. Rouf, Dr. Haifa and Dr. Mudabbir helped with the logistical arrangements.
