Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 30 sparked a controversy when he questioned a reporter’s journalism credentials. The reporter had asked a question about a police matter, to which Sarma responded, “Do you have a journalism degree?”
The Chief Minister then claimed that journalists need to be well-educated and have a background in mass communication to ask important questions to elected officials. He said that meeting with a Chief Minister is a rare opportunity for journalists to ask relevant and pressing questions about the state and the country.
Sarma proposed that there should be an induction training program for journalists to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to ask informed questions. He also stated that he would not have asked such a question to a Chief Minister if he were a journalist, but instead, would have used the opportunity to ask more meaningful and urgent questions.
Many lauded Sarma for stressing the importance of education and training in the field of journalism.However, it should be noted that while a degree in journalism may not be a mandatory requirement for becoming a journalist, it can offer valuable skills and knowledge to those who choose to pursue it. Journalism requires critical thinking, research, and writing skills, as well as an awareness of media ethics and the role of journalism in society.
