The World Press Freedom Day went by quietly on May 3 in Nagaland.

May 3 is marked as a day to reflect on issues of press freedom and professional ethics. According to the UN, the day is an opportunity to: celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

This year’s World Press Freedom Day was commemorated under the theme ‘A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis’.

However, at home, journalists are faced with divergent issues – issues perhaps specific to indigenous societies like the Nagas. The press isn’t always free in our tribal communities that continues to be in a constant conundrum between the tradition and modernity.

On one hand, societies and communities in Nagaland expect journalists to provide free coverages and publicity. On the other hand, the media is confronted with summons and threats whenever investigative reports are published. Trivial errors which can be dealt with empathy and kindness are often met with uproar and demand for apologies.

Another growing concern for the Press in Nagaland is that of the proliferation of unreliable news portals and contents in the absence of regulations with regard to digital news. One pressing challenge as local journalists, is the plagiarizing of reports by these unreliable news sources without providing any credits. This calls for media literacy among readers and much required regulation by the State Government.

For a society to thrive, it needs to allow the Press to freely report. Oftentimes, the Press has to take extreme caution not to hurt any communities’ sentiments, even if it means compromising with the Truth.