The untimely demise of Rohit Sardana, 42, and Nilakshi Bhattacharyya, 55, well-known journalists of two different national media organizations, in the battle against Covid -19 yesterday on 29th April, made national headlines themselves, bringing tears to the eyes of the entire media fraternity in the country.
This pandemic has brought devastation for the journalists across the globe but India is the worst sufferer. According to the data compiled by the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), India has lost 107 scribes to Covid-19, in the past two weeks, with at least 50 journalists succumbing to the virus, on average 3.5 every day. The situation in Odisha is as alarming as India during past fortnight with a total of 11 journalists falling prey to the scourge of the pandemic.
Journalists not recognized as a frontline warriors yet
Despite this frightening figure, the journalists are on their jobs, be at the forefront and serving people, feeding them with information. But it is the sorry state of our system and Government that they are not yet recognized as the frontline warriors.
“When we talk about health workers, sanitation workers, police personnel as a frontline fighter we have been repeatedly telling them that journalists need to be recognized as frontline workers. As the frontline worker, journalists are also providing you the essential service of information which is very important weapon for everyone to fight against Covid. People are risking their lives and going for reporting. Whenever the govt talks about the frontline workers they are never ever mentioning journalists as frontline workers. It is a matter of great shame that journalists are not given due respect and sensitivity,” Uma Sudhir, executive editor of the South Indian division of the television news network NDTV regrets.
A Mumbai-based senior journalist Susheel Pareek said, “If journalists were given vaccination on a priority basis like the frontline warriors then at least some lives could have definitely be saved”.
In view of the escalating fatalities of the journalists, some journalist forums like Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) and Editors Guild also demanded Governments to vaccinate journalists on priority.
Challenges Reporting on Ground during Pandemic
Ismat Ara, 23, a very young journalist working with The Wire, says “Of course, as a journalist I have been reporting on the ground situation since the pandemic first broke out in 2020. Since then, I have gone into quarantine centers, hospitals, cremation grounds and graveyards. The most pressing challenge I face before I go out for any story is one thing that I ask myself before I go out: “Is this story worth my life?”
“More often than not, it turns out that the stories are important and essential as there is a huge dearth of stories from the ground. And to fulfill this gap, we as journalists have to go on the ground to tell the truth to the people. But after all, even journalists are human beings and vulnerable to getting sick. They have elderly people at home who they fear may get infected because of them going out”. She added.
“Due to Corona, no one wants to meet journalists face to face anymore and many things are not shared on the phone. Obviously, then we have to go to field and report from the ground to inform people. Amidst all these factors, bringing news to the people is a big challenge”. Rakesh Tripathi, National bureau head of ETV Bharat said.
Professional Pressure
Alok Putul, BBC correspondent at Raipur says “During the crisis or disaster, whether you are working in a newspaper or in a TV channel, you know that every organization wants to be the first in exclusive pictures and visuals. This is what we call in a sophisticated manner as professional pressure but I reckon it as the organization putting much pressure on the journalists during this crisis”.
“The media organizations very tactfully ask journalists to cover this and that while leaving a note on the last line saying “be careful” it seems the organizations just tend to do their formality to the journalists,” he added.
“Organisations are putting pressure on journalists, there is no doubt about it. They say like why this news is not with us, why they cover, we don’t etc. But I think that journalists themselves also feel that I should go and cover this else somewhere I am failing in doing my duties,” Uma Sudhir said.
Support from the Organisation
Most of the journalists whom I talk to have the same view that every Media house has issued the SOP for their journalists while covering the Pandemic. Like sanitize your equipment before going to the field and after returning as well, use a double mask, maintain proper distances while taking any interview etc. But it is possible their theory do not get translate into practice.
Ismat Ara said that her organization is very supportive and has been telling them to take necessary precautions such as wearing PPE kits and double masking, and also advising them to quarantine for sometime after reporting trips before intermingling with the family members. The emotional support at the organisation has been overwhelming.
Many of the media organizations are nowadays giving working from home option to the journalist but a field reporter has no way except to go out.
Ritesh Verma Organisation Secretary IIMCAA said “The media house provides insurance coverage to its regular staff. Most people are working from home. Those who are going to office are being asked to come and go with a lot of precaution. But safety in the field is not assured every time”.
“The matter of concern is that more than 60% journalists of any states who brought stories/ground reports from the faraway places are not in the organizations’ payroll. As a result these stringers neither get any financial support during the treatment nor their family get any help if they die,” says Alok Putul, BBC correspondent.
Taking Pride of being a journalist
There are so many challenges and hurdles for journalists performing their duty still they are on field and feeding people with information. What is the drive that takes them to move forward and face the challenges?
“When I cover stories on migrants at station or bring news from hospitals, I know there is always a risk; I know the virus is there on the air. Even though the world may not recognize us as frontline worker, many of the journalists feel guilty if we sit at home and do not go out to the field or ground. People used to call us and inform us about the problem with a hope that if we cover the news they might get relief and journalists don’t want to breach that trust of the people,” Uma Sudhir says.
“Very often many satires us questioning as to why we go out and play over-smart by taking risks but the fact is that we do recognize that we are playing a very critical role. You get so much satisfied when people get benefited from your reporting. It is larger than the like feeling that you are able to do something that is meaningful. Something that you did and be able to help, I think this is the feeling of empowerment to journalists also. The most important feeling is the pride that you are taking in your work, is the most important motivation for anyone”. She feels.
Holding hands and helping each other
Different journalist forums have come forward and are helping their fellow journalists who are in crisis. The help is being in the form of both emotional and financial support. “Through the nationwide network of the IIMC Alumni Association, information on the Corona-related needs of the alumnae and their family is being disseminated and some are also being helped,” Ritesh Verma Organisation Secretary IIMCAA informed.
In Odisha, journalists have got together and have formed the Media care WhatsApp group which is keeping the track of the journalists who are suffering and helping them and their family at the time of need.
“We are coordinating with the hospitals if any of our fellow journalists suffering with Covid-19, we are ensuring better health care facility for them. Some of our fellow journalists have succumbed to Covid -19, and we are perusing with the state Government and with our journalist friends trying to ensure some kind of financial support for the family,” Bhakta Tripathy, Senior journalist and the founder of Media Care group said.
Journalists who are in pursuit of promoting citizens’ right to information, yet very often they are at the receiving end of hostility. Still they have been bringing to light the reprehensible dissolution of basic health care facilities in the midst of a pandemic. Do they deserve to be left just like an unacknowledged and unsung Messenger?