Over 2,500 journalists rendered jobless and plunged into financial and mental health crises, says PCI report
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The COVID-19 pandemic not only wreaked havoc on public health but also on the livelihoods of countless journalists across India. A new report by the Press Council of India (PCI) this week speaks of the alarming scale of job losses in the media industry during the pandemic, with over 2,500 journalists being forced into unemployment.
The report, titled “Report on Retrenchment of Journalists by Media Groups During the COVID-19 Period,” sheds light on the distressing circumstances faced by journalists across the country. The PCI formed a sub-committee in September 2023 to study the impact of these retrenchments, which were executed by media houses during and after the pandemic.
The findings reveal that a staggering 80% of the affected journalists were coerced into resigning, with many being terminated without adhering to due process. The report, based on depositions from 51 journalists and testimonies from 12 journalist unions, paints a grim picture of the media landscape during that period. The depositions were gathered through public hearings held at press clubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
The report says a majority of the retrenched journalists received no formal communication about their job losses, with 75% of cases being handled orally. Only 25% of journalists were provided with formal emails regarding their termination. This lack of transparency and communication left many journalists in a state of financial ruin and emotional despair.
Kavitha Iyer, an independent journalist who was retrenched from the Mumbai bureau of Indian Express on 27 July 2020 after 18 years of service, shared her harrowing experience. “I was asked to leave my phone outside during a meeting, where I was told I had to resign or face termination. It was a devastating blow,” Iyer recalled.
Similarly, Ashish Rukhaiyar, former business editor at The Hindu, recounted his abrupt termination on 19 June 2020. In a heartfelt open letter, he described the chaotic manner in which journalists were dismissed: “Reporters were sacked over the phone. Some were even called to the office and forced to resign on the spot.”
The emotional toll of these retrenchments has been severe. Sunita Tewari, who was asked to resign from Hindustan Times’ ‘Nandan’ magazine after 20 years, was later diagnosed with depression. Tragically, a colleague of hers, Santosh Gupta, a designer at the organisation, took his own life after being retrenched.
The PCI report also highlights the financial struggles faced by retrenched journalists. Deepak Turbhekar, a photographer with Mumbai Mirror, was forced to resign over a WhatsApp call in January 2021, after 16 years with the publication. Turbhekar broke down while explaining his dire financial situation to the committee. “I had to sell my wife’s jewellery to support my daughter’s education. I see no hope for the future,” he lamented.
The situation was exacerbated by the refusal of media organisations to recognise journalists as essential workers during the pandemic, despite a directive from the Central government. The report criticised the government’s failure to enforce its own directive, noting that this contributed to the widespread job losses.
The PCI has urged the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Ministry of Law and Justice to establish a model contract for journalists, which would include a minimum tenure of service, provisions for leave, and a severance payout of at least six months’ salary in case of retrenchment. “If journalists do not have job security, then at that very juncture the freedom of the press is compromised,” the report observes.
This comprehensive report serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the pandemic, not only in terms of health but also in the livelihood and mental well-being of journalists who serve as the backbone of the media industry.
