Let journalists explore & tell meaningful stories: Editors in Nagaland ‘pressed’

Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome on ‘Harnessing Media Vibrancy, Embracing New Frontiers’

Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 17

“Send journalists to do stories that matter, stories that will make a difference to our future, stories that will help depict us as who we are, and not just what is being said,” urged Yirmiyan Arthur Yhome, Deputy News Director for Asia-Pacific, The Associated Press (AP), urged media editors in Nagaland.

As the theme speaker at the Dimapur Press Club (DPC) silver jubilee held today at the Dimapur Government College Auditorium, she urged them provide journalists with the resources and time needed to focus on meaningful stories that have a lasting impact on society and contribute to the community’s progress.

She made this suggestion while noting that much of the reportage focuses on issues of lesser significance, which could be better utilised for impactful investigative journalism.

Yirmiyan contextualised this point by narrating her recent visit to Longwa, where she encountered a series of events following the abrogation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), a move largely opposed by Nagas living along the India-Myanmar border and other North-East States like Mizoram, with exceptions in Manipur.

She recounted a discussion with the council chairman, who revealed that daily meetings were being held due to the Army’s insistence on acquiring a room or house to issue permits to Naga brethren residing on the Myanmar side of the border.

She highlighted Longwa’s unique significance to the Naga identity, as the village straddles both India and Myanmar, and underscored the impact of this artificial boundary on the 200 affected households, including six Morungs, the village church, and the playground.

The Deputy News Director also wondered what the dynamics would be when the Longwa council engages in bilateral talks with the Indian army. A meeting with a visiting central team was reportedly scheduled for December 15.

“It’s not equal. It’s so unequal.”

Expressing concern, she noted that such significant developments should have been reported in the media, allowing the voices of Longwa villagers, who remain uncertain about how to respond to these changes, to reach a broader audience.

“So how are we going to hear about it if we do not go out there and report it?” she asked.

In this context, she reiterated the need to give journalists more time, saying: “My earnest urge and request to our journalists here, those who are assigning them, is please, let’s send them out to do stories that matter, stories that will make a difference to our future, stories that will help depict us as who we are, and not just what is being said.”

She urged journalists and their editors to prioritise stories that truly matter—stories that can shape the future, create meaningful impact, and authentically represent the Naga identity, as well as inform policymakers and decision-makers.

Meanwhile, dwelling on other frontiers, she highlighted the new challenges arising from the emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), but stated it is “here to stay.”

Reflecting on the vast technological changes witnessed over the years, from dial-up internet to handheld smart devices, she emphasised the power of technology and the power of internet as a great equalizer.

She also shared how, as a large legacy organisation, AP was initially slow to embrace the digital world and called for harnessing the power of AI ethically.

According to Yirmiyan, the second major challenge today is the way news is consumed, highlighting that two-thirds of news is now consumed through social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

In such a scenario, she stated that attention spans are fleeting, with less attention given to long-form stories. She shared what her organisation has been focusing on: “visual is the story.”

She acknowledged that the younger generation is embracing this shift but expressed concern over the rise of influencers and individuals who are also becoming “journalists.” While this can be positive, it also complicates the work of traditional journalists.

Yirmiyan explained that the information shared can sometimes be incomplete or one-sided. This is where professional journalism plays a crucial role—to provide fact-based, truthful news before misinformation or half-truths spread.

She appealed to people, suggesting they start conversations about the need for funding in journalism and wondered whether the Church, one of the most formidable institutions in Nagaland, could play a part.

“But it has to be independent,” she insisted.

Yirmiyan also discussed the declining state of media freedom in India, noting that the country’s ranking on the global media freedom index has significantly dropped. While few fiercely independent media houses continue to uphold fact-based journalism, though their numbers are steadily shrinking, she said lauding their resilience.

She noted that Nagaland operates within its unique ecosystem, which remains vibrant, and expressed hope that Nagaland would embrace fact-based journalism, avoiding the role of merely echoing the voices of the government or large corporations.

Go beyond conventional reporting: NLA Speaker
Addressing the gathering as the special guest, the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), Sharingain Longkumer, noted that over the past five years, he had learned there are two sides to truth.

However, he also believed there is a third side—one’s opinion. He emphasized that how and where an opinion is expressed carries significant importance.

Many readers and listeners are unaware of which side they should project their opinion on, and the view shared becomes significant, he added.

The Speaker also noted that over the last 25 years, Nagaland, as a state and society, has made progress, including instances of highlighting women’s empowerment and the historic election of two women members to the 14th House of the NLA.
For this, he acknowledged the senior editors present, who have been vocal about women’s empowerment.

Meanwhile, focusing on the theme, Sharingain noted that before embracing the new frontier, a pertinent question needs to be pondered: “Are we proud of where we are?”

To this end, he called for evolving from the convention of event reporting, collectively taking up social responsibility, and responsibly using the technology at hand.

He also urged the DPC to continue being the torchbearer of ethical journalism.

Speaking on the occasion, Editor of Nagaland Page, Monalisa Changkija, mentioned that the first newspapers in Nagaland emerged in 1932 and that the media’s presence today is due to the efforts of those who started the newspapers back then.

She stated that journalists, newspapers, TV channels, and media platforms will come and go, while technology will keep evolving.

Platforms like TikTok may dominate now but will eventually fade. However, the media as the fourth estate will endure, provided people like them work to preserve it, she said. 

Stating that foundation of a democracy has four key pillars: the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and the fourth estate—the media, she underscored that democracy will not endure unless it is actively guarded, fought for, nurtured, and strengthened.
Accordingly, Monalisa advised journalists n ot to get sidetracked by the number of newspapers, television channels, YouTube, TikTok, or other platforms. The core issue, she stressed, is protecting the pillars of democracy.

Stating that media cooperation and coverage have played a crucial role in bringing important messages to the grassroots, Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, Tinojongshi Chang, called for a focus on developmental activities and highlighting positive activities. 

He also acknowledged the pioneers of DPC, stating that without their efforts, the day would not have been possible.

DPC President, Imkong Walling, meanwhile, noted that the jubilee theme resonates with the current challenges and opportunities facing the profession.

“I firmly believe that to remain relevant and impactful, we must embrace these changes, while staying rooted in the ethical framework by which journalists are obligated to work,” he added.