Ink, Ethics and Everything in Between

By PRIYABRAT

The day before yesterday, I had the privilege of meeting someone who has long been a role model to me — not because of fame or flamboyance, but for the sheer dignity he brings to his work. His dedication to journalism, unwavering integrity, and the soul-stirring quality of his writing have always inspired me. I walked into the meeting carrying admiration, but I walked out carrying a perspective I didn’t know I needed.

As our conversation drifted towards the changing landscape of journalism and public relations, I found myself voicing frustrations that have simmered for some time. I spoke candidly about how facts have become elastic, how stories are often twisted to fit agendas, and how PR professionals — once collaborators in truth-telling — now treat journalists like disposable tools. I didn’t hold back, and I wasn’t expecting disagreement.

But then came the moment that shook me, gently yet firmly.

He smiled. Not with sarcasm, not with judgement — but with the compassion of someone who’s seen the world spin faster than most can handle. He patted me on the back and simply said, “Update yourself, your thinking.”

I was stunned. Here was a man who had seen the same decay I was pointing out — surely he would agree with me? Instead, he offered me something far more valuable: perspective.

He explained that in today’s world, freedom — even the freedom to think — is slowly slipping through our fingers. Journalists are no longer just writers; they’re participants in a system oiled by government interests and corporate sponsorships. Truth, that once stood like a monument in our profession, is now dressed and redressed to fit narratives that fund the industry.

“You can’t bite the hand that feeds you,” he said. “Especially when that hand is paying your rent.”

It hit me hard. The reality is bitter, but undeniable. When media houses are driven by advertisement revenue, when survival depends on the goodwill of corporates, the pen becomes less of a sword and more of a product. Objectivity gets auctioned off in return for access, favours, and — sometimes — gifts wrapped in the guise of goodwill.

He wasn’t justifying the state of affairs — he was exposing it. And in doing so, he showed me where the true struggle lies. It’s not just about fighting external forces. It’s about resisting the internal erosion — of conscience, of self-respect, and of professional ethics.

He reminded me of a quote that now echoes in my mind:

“It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving.”

That evening, I didn’t walk away with answers. But I did walk away with resolve. Resolve to not just update my skills or adapt to trends, but to evolve my thinking. To understand that integrity in journalism today isn’t just about reporting facts — it’s about navigating a labyrinth where truth must be protected, sometimes in silence, sometimes in subtlety, but always with sincerity.

Yes, the media space is cluttered, compromised and often corrupt. But within it, there’s still room for clarity — if we choose to preserve it within ourselves.

After all, the power of the pen is not in how loudly it writes, but in how truthfully it speaks — even in whispers.