Stepping out of comfort zone & uncovering extraordinary lives

Imti Longchar conferred with KPC Impact Journalism Award 2024

Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | November 17

Stepping out of his comfort zone, Senior Journalist with The Morung Express, Imti Longchar took upon himself the challenge of uncovering extraordinary lives of people living against the backdrop of hardship and conflict in the Indo-Myanmar international border earlier this year.

Subsequently, he produced several remarkable pieces on biodiversity conservation, besides stories, highlighting the life and struggles faced by those living close to the Indo-Myanmar international border, for which he was conferred with the Kohima Press Club (KPC) Impact Journalism Award 2024, on the occasion of National Press Day, by the KPC, in Kohima, on November 16.

Acknowledging the KPC for creating a platform that celebrates the significance of journalism in Nagaland, Imti Longchar said, “this is a recognition of the stories that often go unheard, the issues that are overlooked and the voices that must be amplified.”

For him, it also represents the importance of shedding light on both the beauty and the struggles within our community even as he underscored that, “We, as journalists have a responsibility to approach every story with honesty, sensitivity and respect, ensuring that each narrative is told with integrity and truth.”

Conferring the award to the journalist, President of Kohima Press Club, Alice Yhoshü said it is being given to Imti Longchar of The Morung Express, in appreciation of his journalistic work on issues of public concern and awareness.

She said that the stories on biodiversity conservation by the journalist reflect “his keen interest in the global issue and how it is relevant and is impacting us locally.” But more importantly, she added, “Imti’s work, in highlighting the life and the struggles faced by those living close to the Indo-Myanmar international border, especially in the eastern district of Noklak, has been exceptional.”

She commended Longchar for exhibiting “his real interest and empathy to understand the local genuine conditions,” while expressing that, “very few journalists take pain to go the extra mile to understand the local communities better.” “Imti’s efforts come as an eye-opener for others to emulate,” she said.

Further reminding that “we are not here to merely give a report or to collect information for the sake of giving news,” she underlined that journalists are also create positive ripples by throwing a pebble in the lake, which, Imti has done “with a practical mindset, by reaching out to a people divided by boundaries and isolated by geography.”

Congratulating him for his outstanding work and stretching our minds, she also encouraged him “to continue to write, accentuating issues that contribute to increasing public knowledge, while upholding the tenets of truth, accuracy, fairness, objectivity and  accountability, which constitute the essence of Journalism.”

Stories that are not glorifying, but that need be told
Covering stories from the Indo-Myanmar international border has given what Imti Longchar calls “life lessons” even as he recalled how he has developed a sense of empathy through the experience. “You realise that it’s not the world that other people live in and the life lessons I have drawn from it are empathy, a different perspective and gratitude”, he expressed.

And while one might think a place like the Indo-Myanmar international border is a remotely inaccessible place, Imti Longchar begs to differ even as he articulated that, “it is not as difficult as you think. The communities and organisations there are willing to go all out to actually help you.”

“It is just that we have to go out. It is not a wild zone. There are a lot of stories you can pursue. Unlike here, they just come and tell you the stories about how they live”, he reminisced. In his words, they are ‘natural storytellers.’ “Whether they are sharing their problems or otherwise, they just share naturally and without any intention”, he said.

He went on to say that there is some kind of innocence in the way they tell their stories while pointing out that in contrast, “nowadays, modern villages are a lot more aware and empowered.”

He was also touched by the hospitality of the people in the area he covered, especially being hosted by Imnaakum, Headmaster of Straightway Mission School at ITC Dan, which is located on the Indo-Myanmar border, Noklak district. Reiterating that “you just have to go out of your comfort zones,” he articulated that “people are ready to communicate with you and share about their lives.”

Stating that there are still many unwritten stories out there— in places considered inaccessible, he added, “If you go, you will get a lot of stories. Not glorifying stories but stories that need to be told.”