today, politicians often target the media: Rajesh Bhardwaj

Rajesh Bhardwaj is a senior video journalist working with CNN-IBN news channel for the last 5 year. He has been in this field from almost 20 years. Apart from covering the daily issues that the channel assigns, he has covered many major events like the Iraq war, 2004 American election, Egyptian revolt etc to name a few. He was also detained by the Egyptian police while covering the revolt.

Here are excerpts of the interview in which he shares his experience of covering the 16th Lok Sabha Election and the pressures of a cameraperson.

*How was your experience of covering this 16th Lok Sabha election?
Ans: 16th Lok Sabha election was vibrant from rest of the elections. Earlier, the rallies and the crowd used to be different. This time channels started going between the public. ‘Chaupal’ system was introduced by the channels to take public opinion about the work done in their society by the parties. So, this was different from the earlier elections.

*You have covered many elections. So, how you see the change of technology in this election? How the technology has changed so far?
Ans: Technology has changed very much. Earlier, big cameras were used in the elections and only few cameras were there with the channels. So, the cameraperson who used to shoot has his own visuals.

Now-a-days parties are technologically advanced. Every party has his own set up and cameraman of the parties used to shoot the things from inside and they used to give the output to the channels and those visuals were shown. Now there are LCDs everywhere in the ground where any kind of event is going to take place. Earlier, we used to shoot first then edit it in the office and then it was ready for on-air, but now reporters shoot in the field and give live from there only. So, slowly but technology has changed very much.

*What change do you see in the politicians over the years?
Ans: There is a mammoth difference between today’s politicians and the politicians of 90s. Earlier politicians used to respect the media and treat them like the 4th pillar. But today, politicians often target the media, if one story goes anti about the party. Media was targeted 10 times during the Jantar Mantar issue going on in Delhi earlier this year. It’s good for the politicians when media is with them, but the same media becomes their enemy when any story goes anti about them. So, there is a huge difference in the politicians over the years.

*How much are the rules and regulations needed in the media?
Ans: Obviously, rules and regulations are important in this field also like any other field. Anyone who does wrong is punished, be it in any field. Every channel wants its story to be delivered first and in doing so many reporters give false news but they are punished for that.

*Is there any change in today’s journalists and the journalists of your time?
Ans: Yes, journalists have also changed over the years. Earlier people used to join this field to serve the nation but now a glamour factor is there in this. Today 80% of the journalists want to become an anchor. Now-a-days designation has also been changed in journalism. Earlier the people who used to shoot things were called camerapersons but now they are called video journalists. Earlier only the reporters were issued press cards and the rest of the staff were given I-card. And now everyone in the channel, irrespective of any post, is given press card.

*Sometime before, there were fewer cameras with any news channel. But now, not only cameras have increased but also the channels and the camerapersons. So, how the competition has increased and what are the pressures?
Ans; There is a lot of pressure. Earlier whenever we used to shoot, there were hardly 5-6 cameras. But now, 5-6 team of a single channel reach there to cover the news. And the competition is so tough that each channel wants their channel to work 24 hours and there should be something different every time to show. The increase in the channels has led to the change in its quality. But that’s life. In this competition, you have to do your best and that also before anyone else.