PCI to hear scribes dumped by media houses during Covid-19

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By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, October 18: After tales of journalists treated most shabbily by the media houses during the Covid-19 outbreak became the street talks, press bodies would hear the plight of the scribes. The Press Council of India will hold hearings to specifically listen to the issue of retrenchment during the pandemic by the media houses.

“The Press Club of India is facilitating the Press Council of India’s public hearings on the issue of retrenchment of journalists during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the PCI in a statement. It may be noted that the media houses had effected sharp salary cut to the extent of even 50 per cent while delaying payment as a norm with the alibi of the pandemic. Also, the media owners had issued revised salary structure on simple print outs with apparent intent to escape the scrutiny of the labour laws.

“The Council is seeking representations from experts, individual journalists, journalist unions, press workers unions, press clubs, journalist associations, news media companies, etc. who were affected by the issues such as laid off, forced to take VRS, put on furlough, put on leave without pay, asked or forced to resign, terminated from their positions, affected by non-renewal or changed terms of contract, etc., during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-February 2021),” added the PCI.

The public hearings on 28 October 2023 from 11.00 am to 5:00 pm will be held at the Press Club of India premises: 1, Raisina Road, New Delhi. “These are a part of the Press Council of India’s Study on Retrenchment of Journalists during COVID-19. Representations made at the hearing will form a part of the final report to be submitted to the Press Council of India,” said the PCI, stating that registration can be done at https://forms.gle/LQZd8m2w7jexKTnUA