The Delhi Union of Journalists has issued a statement on the increasing attacks on journalists in Uttarakhand, Kolkata and Delhi, the mass layoffs in India Today and the UP government’s new media policy to pay influencers close to the government and punish those posting social media posts.
Here is the statement, in full:
DUJ Condemns Life Threatening Attack on Uttarakhand Journo
THE Delhi Union of Journalists, in a statement issued on September 2, has condemned the life threatening attack on Uttarakhand based journalist Yogesh Dhimri, whose small digital channel Aanwala News has been in the forefront of exposes about the drug and liquor mafia operating in the state. Dhimri is also known for his bold reportage of the Ankita Bhandari rape and murder case. The attack left him badly injured and he is in hospital. A video of the attack has become viral. DUJ has demanded an immediate inquiry and adequate compensation and protection for Dhimri.
Yogi Government’s New Media Policy
The DUJ also expressed its shock at the Yogi government’s new Digital Media Policy. This policy is nothing but an “I scratch your back and you scratch mine” method of government sponsored paid news. Under it ‘influencers’ can earn up to Rs 8 lakh per month for promoting state schemes. Much worse, this policy threatens that anyone who posts ‘anti-national’ content on social media may be punished by imprisonment for anywhere from three years to life in jail. Further, this ‘policy’ carries the threat that obscene and defamatory content posted online will result in criminal defamation charges being brought by the government. Both carrot and stick will be applied to make sure the media toes the official line.
Attacks on Journalits covering protests in Kolkata, JNU
DUJ has noted with concern that attacks on the media are growing countrywide, whether they are attacks by police on journos covering the protests against the Kolkata rape murder case or the recent attack on media persons by the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s private security agency Cyclops. In the latter case, journos covering a student protest were roughed up and a camera and other equipment snatched. DUJ strongly objected to such strong arm tactics by university authorities and their agencies to cover lawful protests.
Layoffs in India Today
DUJ expressed dismay at the growing number of attacks on journalists’ livelihoods, with more organisations laying off media persons. Most recently, there is news of the India Today group letting go nearly 200 people, most of them employed with Aajtak and its digital verticals. DUJ strongly objected to this pattern of dismissing media persons to replace them with AI tools. This, the DUJ fears, will result in further diluting the low journalism standards of many news channels even if it increases their profits.
