Journalism in India may have been perceived to have slipped from the pre-Independence pedestal of a noble profession to “just a space-filler between advertisements”, but despite the slings and arrows of a repressive Government, intimidation and occasional wrath of the public, it is still the one and only medium through which the nation talks to itself, and with reason, information and opinions. This section is dedicated to the men and women who have informed and enlightened the people through all forms of communications (electronics, print and now on-line), whom we have enjoyed listening to, reading and watching while they covered a world in turmoil, a world in struggle and a nation in growth.

A dogmatic reaction to the existence of media is self-defeating, for media is not a closed organism. It is a heterogeneous process which constantly changes the texture of reality – both as it exists and as it is reported or interpreted. It is easy to brand the media one-dimensional, a product like toothpaste, a puppet in the hands of barons with vested business interests. But it is not so. Media pushes opinion and debate on the opinion; it has the power to change social consciousness; it brings a visual reality into the interiors of human habitat. Hence, the basic paradigm that the role of the media is to inform, educate and persuade remains. Media must intervene; it must have a vision; it must sustain the logic of democracy, humanism, justice and freedom. More so, it must sustain vibrant, intelligent, committed and nuanced dissent.

If media becomes the medium of a market without a soul it will decline to vulgarity. Rising sales figures are no landmark for content. To hold on to journalism, which is balanced, and fair, which stands upright with truth, is unafraid of the powers that be in the market or in the political establishment, is the ultimate goal. If journalism can stick to these principles, with scholarship and subtle doggedness, and with a commitment to the masses, it will fulfill its most essential task.

With such a deep-seated role in the process of moulding the future of a nation, it would be no aberration to say that Editors are gatekeepers of exits and entries, through which no falsity should escape and colour the public mind. But then as one of the luminaries of the Fourth Estate said: “We tell the public which way the cat is jumping. They should then take care of the cat.” Rightly said, as rightly as the fact that the mission of modern media is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.