IJU demands package for news media during pandemic
IJU PR
JUNE 28 2020: The Indian Journalist Union (IJU) Friday held its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting with 13 affiliate state unions in attendance. IJU President Geetartha Pathak chaired the virtual NEC meeting.
Pathak expressed grave concern over the repressive approach being adopted by the Uttar Pradesh government towards journalists whose reports/ articles are critical to the government programmes.
The I JU also discussed the widespread laying off journalists across the country by media houses, and resolved to write to the Prime Minister’s Office for announcing financial package for the news media organisations in the country which are genuinely affected by the pandemic.
IJU cited that many European countries have announced special package for the media so that journalists not lose their jobs. IJU regretted that the central government’s economic packages to the business houses and insurance coverage to the doctor’s and health workers did not cover the media organisations and the journalists at large.
IJU president Geetartha Pathak said that the pandemic has brought new challenges to journalists and journalism profession itself where job cuts, forced resignation, salary cuts along with detention, harassment have become a routine happening.
IJU resolved to hold seminars/ webinars to make journalists aware of labour laws and their rights as an employee or worker. IJU expressed serious concern at the concentration of ownership of media outlets at the hands of a few big media houses nationally and at the hands of tech giants like Google, Facebook etc globally.
IJU apprehended that a news desert may affect the democracies globally by plugging the diverse sources of information which enriches democracy.