The Crossbill Team
The National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ) and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ), in a joint statement have lauded the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), for dedicating a section of their manifestos to media and promising to scrap the highly intrusive Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023.
While extending May Day greetings to all members and co-workers associated with journalism, the joint statement said, “We welcome the promises made by some political parties in their election manifestos for redressal of the problems of the Media. The Congress Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have devoted sections of their manifestos to Media and both have agreed e.g. to withdraw the dangerous Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 and review the Press and Periodicals Act, 2023.”
It may be noted that the Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur, had published the draft Bill on November 11, 2023, that seeks to regulate OTT platforms, news portals, and YouTube journalists. The ministry elicited the views and comments from various stakeholders on the draft, since 10th of November last year.
On January 15, the Editors Guild of India (EGI) had expressed its dissatisfaction and concern over Bill. In a letter written to I&B minister, the body called the draft of the Bill as “vague and excessively intrusive”.
The EGI said the Bill will result in an “overbearing system of self-regulation” mandating the creation of content evaluation committees in a manner that allows the government to have a greater degree of control on those committees. According to the EGI, the draft of the new Bill will prove “adverse to the spirit of freedom of speech and freedom of the press guaranteed by the constitution.”
The NAJ and DUJ letter also mentions the pledges made by Left Parties, CPI(M) and CPI to protect all media workers' right through restorations of two amended Working Journalist Acts and to take steps to curb fake news.
Hailing the Left Parties, the joint letter said, “The CPI (M) and the Communist Party of India hàve promised to restore the Working Journalist Acts with amendments to include all media workers. They have also promised action to stop fake news. The NAJ-DUJ regret that most other parties have not cared to pay even lip service to the cause of independent and free media.”
Read the full joint statement below:
For Favour of Publication
National Alliance of Journalists(Regd.)
Delhi Union of Journalists ( Regd.)
Flat No.29, Central Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi-1
Phone: 23413459, Email: duj.delhi@gmail.com
30 April, 2024
PRESS RELEASE
May Day Greetings From NAJ-DUJ
The National Alliance of Journalists and the Delhi Union of Journalists in a joint statement greet all our members and co-workers on the occasion of May Day, when workers first became conscious of their rights and dignity and fought for them.
This May Day has a special significance as the country is in the midst of a national election when the freedom of expression and the rights and dignity of independent journalism, the spirit of inquiry and the scientific temper and secular democratic character of India is being threatened as never before.
In this context we welcome the promises made by some political parties in their election manifestos for redressal of the problems of the Media. The Congress Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have devoted sections of their manifestos to Media and both have agreed e.g. to withdraw the dangerous Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 and review the Press and Periodicals Act, 2023, besides reviewing other laws that are meant to censor the Media. Both parties also promise to enact laws to protect journalists from arbitrary arrests and malicious prosecution. Further, they promise action to curb cross-media ownership monopolies.
The CPI (M) and the Communist Party of India hàve promised to restore the Working Journalist Acts with amendments to include all media workers. They have also promised action to stop fake news. The NAJ-DUJ regret that most other parties have not cared to pay even lip service to the cause of independent and free media.
On the eve of May Day we protest the threat to our basic labour rights from the four Labour Codes that seek to replace decades of hard won legal rights enshrined in law. The Codes will replace the two Working Journalists Acts and make hiring and firing easier at a time when unemployment is rife and the livelihood of many journalists is at stake. We demand restoration of the Working Journalists' Acts, an end to the contract system and a new Wage Board. We also demand special protection from arrests and an end to arbitrary prosecution of journalists.
May 1 is particularly important for us as it marks the 75th foundation year of the DUJ, the oldest body of journalists in the capital. A phased programme to celebrate the anniversary year is to be announced shortly.
A meeting of the office functionaries of the NAJ and DUJ has also resolved to observe World Press Freedom Day on May 3 with the call "Save Independent Journalism in India Today". It has condemned all attempts at spewing hate speech and whipping up communalism in a country that prided itself in its secular democratic character.
Sd/- S.K. Pande, President –NAJ
Sd/- Sujata Madhok, President-DUJ
Sd/- G. Anjaneyulu, General Secretary-APWJF
Sd/- A.M.Jigeesh, General Secretary – DUJ
Sd/- N.Kondaiah, Secretary General-NAJ
While extending May Day greetings to all members and co-workers associated with journalism, the joint statement said, “We welcome the promises made by some political parties in their election manifestos for redressal of the problems of the Media. The Congress Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have devoted sections of their manifestos to Media and both have agreed e.g. to withdraw the dangerous Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 and review the Press and Periodicals Act, 2023.”
It may be noted that the Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur, had published the draft Bill on November 11, 2023, that seeks to regulate OTT platforms, news portals, and YouTube journalists. The ministry elicited the views and comments from various stakeholders on the draft, since 10th of November last year.
On January 15, the Editors Guild of India (EGI) had expressed its dissatisfaction and concern over Bill. In a letter written to I&B minister, the body called the draft of the Bill as “vague and excessively intrusive”.
The EGI said the Bill will result in an “overbearing system of self-regulation” mandating the creation of content evaluation committees in a manner that allows the government to have a greater degree of control on those committees. According to the EGI, the draft of the new Bill will prove “adverse to the spirit of freedom of speech and freedom of the press guaranteed by the constitution.”
EGI has submitted a representation on the draft Broadcasting Services Bill to @MIB_India
— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) January 15, 2024
Primary concerns are Centre’s powers to monitor and block content, prohibit transmission on vague grounds, and a system of self regulation that allows govt great control. pic.twitter.com/pRvtFg2UbC
The NAJ and DUJ letter also mentions the pledges made by Left Parties, CPI(M) and CPI to protect all media workers' right through restorations of two amended Working Journalist Acts and to take steps to curb fake news.
Hailing the Left Parties, the joint letter said, “The CPI (M) and the Communist Party of India hàve promised to restore the Working Journalist Acts with amendments to include all media workers. They have also promised action to stop fake news. The NAJ-DUJ regret that most other parties have not cared to pay even lip service to the cause of independent and free media.”
Read the full joint statement below:
For Favour of Publication
National Alliance of Journalists(Regd.)
Delhi Union of Journalists ( Regd.)
Flat No.29, Central Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi-1
Phone: 23413459, Email: duj.delhi@gmail.com
30 April, 2024
PRESS RELEASE
May Day Greetings From NAJ-DUJ
The National Alliance of Journalists and the Delhi Union of Journalists in a joint statement greet all our members and co-workers on the occasion of May Day, when workers first became conscious of their rights and dignity and fought for them.
This May Day has a special significance as the country is in the midst of a national election when the freedom of expression and the rights and dignity of independent journalism, the spirit of inquiry and the scientific temper and secular democratic character of India is being threatened as never before.
In this context we welcome the promises made by some political parties in their election manifestos for redressal of the problems of the Media. The Congress Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have devoted sections of their manifestos to Media and both have agreed e.g. to withdraw the dangerous Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 and review the Press and Periodicals Act, 2023, besides reviewing other laws that are meant to censor the Media. Both parties also promise to enact laws to protect journalists from arbitrary arrests and malicious prosecution. Further, they promise action to curb cross-media ownership monopolies.
The CPI (M) and the Communist Party of India hàve promised to restore the Working Journalist Acts with amendments to include all media workers. They have also promised action to stop fake news. The NAJ-DUJ regret that most other parties have not cared to pay even lip service to the cause of independent and free media.
On the eve of May Day we protest the threat to our basic labour rights from the four Labour Codes that seek to replace decades of hard won legal rights enshrined in law. The Codes will replace the two Working Journalists Acts and make hiring and firing easier at a time when unemployment is rife and the livelihood of many journalists is at stake. We demand restoration of the Working Journalists' Acts, an end to the contract system and a new Wage Board. We also demand special protection from arrests and an end to arbitrary prosecution of journalists.
May 1 is particularly important for us as it marks the 75th foundation year of the DUJ, the oldest body of journalists in the capital. A phased programme to celebrate the anniversary year is to be announced shortly.
A meeting of the office functionaries of the NAJ and DUJ has also resolved to observe World Press Freedom Day on May 3 with the call "Save Independent Journalism in India Today". It has condemned all attempts at spewing hate speech and whipping up communalism in a country that prided itself in its secular democratic character.
Sd/- S.K. Pande, President –NAJ
Sd/- Sujata Madhok, President-DUJ
Sd/- G. Anjaneyulu, General Secretary-APWJF
Sd/- A.M.Jigeesh, General Secretary – DUJ
Sd/- N.Kondaiah, Secretary General-NAJ
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