The Crossbill Team
Noted journalists gathered at the Press Club of India, New Delhi on occasion of World Press Freedom Day, on Friday (May 3), raised concerns about the prevailing state of media gag in the country and urged for an united fight to extricate independent journalism.
During the occasion, a discussion meet titled ‘Save Journalism, Protect Journalists Rights Day’ was organized by two press bodies the National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ) and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ).
At the meeting, senior journalist and the President of the Press Club of India, Gautam Lahiri condemned the growing denial of access to information under the current government, with a sharp reduction in the number of passes to cover Parliament and restrictions on the rights of accredited journalists to enter Ministries and speak freely even to officials.
He said, “Neither the Prime Minister nor the President hold Press Conferences. The Election Commission of India has also breached convention by not holding the usual press briefing after each polling day.” He added that, “The non-disclosure of the number of votes polled immediately after voting and provisional figures provided only 11 days later raises suspicion.”
Commenting on mainstream media, journalist and analyst, Bhasha Singh said, “This election is a critical time for democracy and we are on the edge. The Election Commission continues to ignore hate speech and religious polarization while the corporate owned mainstream media is not for democracy. This media has become a perception creating industry, a fake news industry.”
“It parrots the government line on everything whether it is Pulwama or torture by the military in Kashmir, as exposed by Caravan recently. It carries in detail deliberately leaked ‘news’ on NewsClick, including the most vicious and wildly imaginative fiction,” she added.
Senior journalist Jaishankar Gupta said, “we live in undeclared censorship now, not knowing which article or which comment on air will invite punitive action from the authorities. Independent journalists are quietly blacklisted by public or private broadcasters. The Press Council is barely functional, unable to provide redress.”
Veteran journalist S.K.Pande termed the current scenario as “a state of undeclared censorship”. He pointed out that discussion on problem in states like Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur are debarred in mainstream media.
Journalist Dhanasumod, said when we speak of attacks on individual journalists or independent media we are watching the trees, not the forest. We need to see the larger picture which is the imminent threat to democracy in the country.
Veteran journalist Sujata Madhok called upon efforts by journalists themselves to carry forwards authentic information. He said, “there is need for both more solidarity and more networking among journalists and their organisations. We should individually do more ‘prachaar’ on WhatsApp, X, Instagram and other social media, forwarding information and calling out fake news. We must work together on drafting and demanding a fair media policy.”
During the occasion, a discussion meet titled ‘Save Journalism, Protect Journalists Rights Day’ was organized by two press bodies the National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ) and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ).
At the meeting, senior journalist and the President of the Press Club of India, Gautam Lahiri condemned the growing denial of access to information under the current government, with a sharp reduction in the number of passes to cover Parliament and restrictions on the rights of accredited journalists to enter Ministries and speak freely even to officials.
He said, “Neither the Prime Minister nor the President hold Press Conferences. The Election Commission of India has also breached convention by not holding the usual press briefing after each polling day.” He added that, “The non-disclosure of the number of votes polled immediately after voting and provisional figures provided only 11 days later raises suspicion.”
Commenting on mainstream media, journalist and analyst, Bhasha Singh said, “This election is a critical time for democracy and we are on the edge. The Election Commission continues to ignore hate speech and religious polarization while the corporate owned mainstream media is not for democracy. This media has become a perception creating industry, a fake news industry.”
“It parrots the government line on everything whether it is Pulwama or torture by the military in Kashmir, as exposed by Caravan recently. It carries in detail deliberately leaked ‘news’ on NewsClick, including the most vicious and wildly imaginative fiction,” she added.
Senior journalist Jaishankar Gupta said, “we live in undeclared censorship now, not knowing which article or which comment on air will invite punitive action from the authorities. Independent journalists are quietly blacklisted by public or private broadcasters. The Press Council is barely functional, unable to provide redress.”
Veteran journalist S.K.Pande termed the current scenario as “a state of undeclared censorship”. He pointed out that discussion on problem in states like Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur are debarred in mainstream media.
Journalist Dhanasumod, said when we speak of attacks on individual journalists or independent media we are watching the trees, not the forest. We need to see the larger picture which is the imminent threat to democracy in the country.
Veteran journalist Sujata Madhok called upon efforts by journalists themselves to carry forwards authentic information. He said, “there is need for both more solidarity and more networking among journalists and their organisations. We should individually do more ‘prachaar’ on WhatsApp, X, Instagram and other social media, forwarding information and calling out fake news. We must work together on drafting and demanding a fair media policy.”
Prasanta Chakraborty
I fully agree with the sentiment and concerns of the senior joui. I am the secretary of Tripura Union of Working Journalists ( affiliated to NUJ-I) and my experience is so bad that I have decided not to associate myself with any program organised by saffronized media. Even NUJI has lost its way and becomes a associate body of ruling party. If this election fail to rejuvenate the democratic forces, I am sure there will be no media in the country.