‘3 in 5 journalists face work-related threats’

New Delhi, Nov. 15 (IANS): About three in five journalists in India receive threats or pressure at some point of time, mostly through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter as well as private messaging app like WhatsApp, said a survey on Friday.

Of those who faced threats/harassment, 35% believe that they were targeted because of the angle or the way a story was reported by them.

While 29% of the overall respondents disclosed that they received threats once in a year, 19% of the respondents received threats several times a month, showed the results of the survey conducted by Vision Foundation in association with the National Union of Journalists (India).

Out of those who were threatened, around 46% respondents claimed that social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook were the medium, followed by 17% respondents who were threatened via private messaging apps like WhatsApp/Message.

On the other hand, 76% journalists said that either no safety protocol existed in their organisations or that they were not trained for safety issues.

At least four journalists were killed in India in 2019 due to work-related issues.

The “Threats to Safety of Journalists in India” survey involved 823 media professionals, out of which approximately 21% were female.

The results suggest that journalists face physical, psychological and emotional risks because of many factors like sharp division of ideology among citizens, high voltage political situations, impunity for crime against journalists and ethical dimensions of journalism, among others.

Ensuring accuracy of news published (74%), followed by reporting exclusive news (13%) and being the first one to publish news (11%) seem to be the top three priorities of the media organisations in which the respondents work, the study revealed.

When asked about the biggest challenge faced by the journalism sector in the 21st century, 33% pointed to increasing attacks on freedom of press, followed by 21% respondents who felt that fake/paid news was the biggest challenge. Social networking sites and influencers bypassing traditional media were cited as a challenge by 18% respondents.

Ravi, Rio greet media fraternity

Dimapur, Nov. 15 (EMN): Governor RN Ravi and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio have greeted the media fraternity in Nagaland, on the occasion of National Press Day, which is observed on November 16.

“I understand that the Press Council of India has proposed to discuss and deliberate on the topic ‘Reporting – Interpretation: A Journey’ on the National Press Day. I hope this will contribute towards further strengthening the quality of reporting in the news organisation.

“The free press is one of the foundation stone of democracy and plays a pivotal role in connecting the government and the citizens. I trust the occasion will inspire every member of the fraternity to be more responsive, responsible and proactive in their responsibilities,” read a statement from the governor on Friday.

Rio, on his official Twitter account, wrote: “Greetings to the media fraternity on National Press Day; a day which symbolises free and responsible journalism. A free press is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy and we are fully committed to upholding freedom of press. May the media space be used, more and more, to bring about progressive social change.”