DALIT AND TRIBAL IDENTITY IN JOURNALISM AND MEDIA (A STUDY ON DALIT AND TRIBAL NEWS PUBLISHED IN VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS AND WEB PORTALS)

Abstract

At the time of independence, identity of “Dalits and Tribals†in Journalism and Media was not proper. Few “Dalit and Tribal†journalists and media professionals are working in mainstream media comparative to others sector. In newspapers, radio and TV channels few such reporters, news editors, and editors are working. In TV and radio channels, most of these journalists are not involved in anchoring and news reading work. Media also highlights them in a negative way in most of the news and in some news, they highlight them in a positive manner. Mainstream media and local media publish and broadcast their problems in the form of news. Media publishes news about them and presents them as a voter of political parties and they also publish and broadcast about their lower standard. Media does not portray them as a stronger caste, and even highlights them as lower, poor and neglected strata of the society. If any eminent personality like a politician belonging to general caste goes to a “Dalit’s and Tribal’s†home and eats food with them then it is a big story for media. Media highlights and gives importance to such kind of news story considering the political or election point of view. If any celebrity or politician shows sympathy with them on any negative or positive issue then too it is given a lot of attention by the media. Their image and identity in media is not positive. They try to focus positively but ultimately end up in showing a negative image or negative impression about them. A number of “Dalit and Tribal†students have completed journalism and mass communication (UG and PG courses) from various journalism institutions but only few students are appointed by media houses as journalists. If by chance any such journalism student is appointed by media houses then they are not given a good salary. In Government media, “Dalit and Tribal†journalists and media professionals are appointed in reservation quota. In mainstream media and private media, few “Dalit and Tribal†journalists are working but they are not getting good salary and posts in the media houses and they are not getting more byline stories. Most of media houses’ editor and honors are not giving importance, important assignments, opportunity and responsibility to “Dalit and Tribal†journalists.