IBN Network Citizen Journalism – Honouring the fearless Spirits

‘We have done nothing in our lives!’ With so much opportunity at hand we are terribly wasted!’ This was the reaction that was evoked in my family while we were watching the ‘Citizen Journalist Awards’ organized by IBN Network on 23^rd October to recognize and encourage the Citizens who have contributed immensely to the society by dauntlessly reporting and evoking response from the concerned authorities. Democratization of news was started in grand way by Network 18 around 2006 and since then it has graduated into an effective tool for the common man to convey their views to the masses.

This event celebrating the unsubduable spirit of the citizen journalists was unfurled by singer Hariharan creating a great mood with his mellifluous voice. The hosts of the day were Rajdeep Sardesai, editor in chief, IBN Network, and Ashotosh, managing editor, IBN 7 who put forth questions about relevance of citizen journalism to the elite audience. Responding to the same, Nalini Singh, eminent journalist made a strong point when she said that once, the journalists used to be people connected to land, passionate to voice problems of their land, to bring a change. But today majority of journalists wish to become stars. They wish to see their names and faces flashing across the media which is not at all true journalism.

The event was presented by Idea Cellular Network and was rightly called a first of its kind, By the Citizens, Of the Citizens and For the Citizens. Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, the chief guest of the occasion congratulated and conferred awards to 22 CJs in seven categories - Special CJ, CJ Fight Back, Save Your City, Green CJ, Be the Change, Best Videos and Best Images.

The Fight Back CJ Award went to the CJs who took initiative to fight back the system by questioning it. CJ Tulika Verma almost broke down when she started talking about her signature campaign to restart pediatric surgery ward of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi which had been defunct for 2 years. Her son suffers from multiple congenital disorders which needed the assistance of pediatric surgeons.

The Save Your City Award was for the CJs who turn crusaders to save their city. CJ Vimla Devi who combated for community toilet facility in Kalyanpuri Area in New Delhi won this award. Vimla Devi who received the award from CM Sheila Dixit said that she had filed an RTI and put in a lot of efforts but all was in vain. She said that it was only when the story was reported through Network 18 that measures were being taken. Well in short she was saying that reporting in media lead to quick problem solving by the Government which is essentially because the government wants to save their face.

The Be the change award was for the CJs who lay the foundation for the change that they want to see in the world. Sameer Mehta’s free the left lane campaign in Hyderabad to prevent people from blocking the left lane and allow smooth flow of traffic won him this award

Green CJ Award was for CJs who took genuine efforts to nurture and save the environment. CJ Katie Bagli whose favourite rewinding spot was the 63 acre biodiversity park, Rani Bagh, in Mumbai fought her way through to save this park. Her efforts won her this award.

Special Jury awards were conferred to CJ Rajendra Johar, Javed Ahmed and Dinesh Gupta for becoming inspiration to mankind. The Eminent Jury Award went to actor Rahul Bose. The jury of CJ Awards included Kiran Bedi, Madhu Trehan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Nandita Das, Prasoon Joshi, Neelam Krishnamoorthy and Arvind Kejriwal.

The whole event had a grand feel since it was made of the common men who took up the onus on themselves to put forward various nagging concerns. Encouraging citizen journalism is very essential since the silent sufferers gain a voice to reach out and question the burning problems that they face. The whole idea of giving the layman a platform through sending photos, videos and writing blogs is worth appreciating.

But then every cause for which a citizen fights is important to him and the people of that locality. Can one CJ effort be put forth as better than the others? Along with the encouragement that the CJ awards bring with them are they introducing a streak of competitiveness amongst the citizen journalists? Well of course a healthy competition is good unless it dilutes the true spirit of citizen journalism, the true spirit to bring about a change.