Journalism: How in Bhutan...?

Giving up the note pad and pen of their interest...

Where does it go from here is what hits the minds of journalists in Bhutan having to survive the life while passion is on writing.

 Only the time they forget this concern, is when they are nipped into busy reporting.

While things are more promising for young graduates joining the management team, it was never the same for young journalists interested in reporting and trying to be a voice for voiceless.

The media houses, housing as many young journalists with very few senior seasoned journalists speaks about the current situation of Journalism in Bhutan.

Take a look back, the Bhutan's first journalist became the media controller by taking up bureaucratic seat as the secretary for the Ministry of Information and communication.

Following the same, as many senior reporters from kuensel are now in position other than journalism some are CEO, some seem to lobbying for political career, some are already in to public relation, some working as media officer some where and other into private business.

 Some of the journalists in the private media houses are also seemingly giving up on the job.  Recently  Mr. Tashi Dorji resigned from the editor of the Business Bhutan. And there are not much seasoned journalists holding back on the profession to remain, because this is as far as they can go. Not promising of a career I believe. 

If only these few faces like Lop Rinzin Wangchuk, Mr. Phuntsho Wangdi, Mr. Nidup Zangpo and Mr. Samten Wangchuk of those old flocks of journalists remain. Unless they have some other intention deep inside, the journalism in Bhutan rests up on the only few seniors of below 10 years in journalism to catch up with international journalism, whose journalists have more than 20 years of field reporting to boast. May these people remain and hang on the profession and give a life to journalism in real sense.

To count our own, I believe it is the only kuensel editor Mr. Phuntsho Wangdi in today's time, who have more than 20 years in journalism and still serving in the field.

The end of the career destination of journalist in Bhutan, so I think is held by the Government on one hand and the management on the other hand. 

For instance, journalists working with private media houses remain unpaid for months that they are compelled to think of other possible jobs for a career although their interest is in journalism, because the source of revenue, the most that comes from Government isn't much in their favor. 

Meanwhile in corporate media houses, reporters are less concern for management where most of the reporters feel ignored of their welfare while the management is concerned of the business not realizing that it is a media house where the editorial content is its front line for the business.

Most of the time best reporters are the one who look for alternative job while management does not care to retain, rather some quote egoistic citations by management individuals of having heard of saying "we have hundreds of graduates waiting for the job."

Journalism I believe is not about getting job or having a plenty looking for job, it is much more than just a job that demands interest, commitment, knowledge and skills that can only be possible after spending not less than 10 years in the profession.

Looking at the current trend in journalists seeking career shift, the media and journalism in Bhutan seems to take time in reaching the height of journalism.

To see a Bhutanese journalist as old as those you see in BBC and Aljazeera reporting from the field will obviously take few more decades to see it in Bhutan.

I wish and hope a few vibrant journalists we have in kuensel, BBS, and other private media remain to continue and groom the rest wanting to grow with journalism.