02 Aug 2021

Disruption has not changed the basics of journalism: Sajeet Manghat

Executive Editor of Bloomberg Quint tells young journalists to learn multimedia skills and multi-task constantly.

The road ahead for journalism is challenging due to the disruption caused by the pandemic in the past couple of years, said Sajeet Manghat, Executive Editor, Bloomberg Quint.

Journalists must learn to adapt quickly, learn multimedia skills and widen their knowledge base if they are to make a difference to society, Mr Manghat said while inaugurating the 2021-22 batch of the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media online on Monday, August 2, 2021.

Listing the pros and cons of the disruption in the profession, Mr Manghat said journalism is now more a platform given the manner in which it has turned digital. Newspapers and older mediums are no longer relevant, while production control rooms have migrated from studios to living rooms.

The way news is disseminated has also changed. Therefore, journalists have to learn multimedia skills and multi-task constantly, the Editor said. Warning them of stress that might lead to burnout, Mr Manghat asked the trainee journalists to have a career plan that spans a decade, so that they stay focused and can deal with the challenges of a profession that is evolving again.

While the hybrid newsroom is here to stay, the basic principles of journalism have not changed and will not change, he said. Youngsters should focus on putting out a story that is balanced with all points of view and that tells the truth. Reading and educating oneself is important so that they can get the basics right, he said.

President of IIJNM, Dr Abraham George, told the incoming batch that it is the duty of the press to inform the people of the shortcomings in society so that they can be fixed. People participate in a democracy — express dissent, seek changes to policy and have conversations — through the press. Journalism ensures an informed citizenry that is essential to a democracy, Dr George said.

He expressed confidence that the young students, on graduating, will be able to bring about a change in society that will make the country great.

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