In the past year, numerous frontline workers such as doctors, health workers and police officers were killed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So when India started its vaccination campaign, they received priority vaccination. The priority vaccination had a positive effect as the number of frontline workers who lost their lives in the second wave of the pandemic is significantly fewer than in the first. But journalists weren’t so lucky.
Although journalists were constantly in the field and on duty during the entire pandemic, they were mostly not considered front workers and were not given a priority in the vaccination campaign. And now a study has shown that more than 300 media representatives, including many well-known journalists, have lost their lives due to the virus.
In April 2021, three journalists died every day. In May that average rose to four a day.
The second wave not only claimed the lives of several senior journalists, but also killed many others who work in districts, towns and villages in various Indian states.
According to a report by the Delhi-based Institute of Perception Studies, a total of 238 journalists died from April 2020 to May 16, 2021 as a result of Covid-19 infection (these are the cases that have been reviewed).
Four journalists died every day in May
The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was far more devastating for the media than the first. According to the report by the Institute for Perceptual Studies, 56 journalists were killed in the first wave of pandemics from April to December 2020. In comparison, the second wave claimed the lives of 171 journalists between April 1, 2021 and May 16, 2021. The remaining 11 journalists died between January and April.
The number of journalists who have died of Covid in India is now 276.@ NWM_India tries to keep track of things: https://t.co/tYI0q71ycZ https://t.co/EGyuxclorq
– Raju Narisetti (@raju) May 14, 2021
Over 300 journalists died from COVID
In addition to 238 deaths listed by the Institute for Perceptual Studies, the Institute has 82 other names that have yet to be verified. In an interview with AajTak.in, the director of the institute, Dr. Kota Neelima that over 300 journalists have died of Covid so far. “Of those we were able to verify 238. An investigation into the rest is underway.”
The Institute for Perceptual Studies has included all journalists who died from infection while reporting on-site news or working in offices. These range from reporters from media institutions, stringers, freelancers, photojournalists and citizen journalists.
Another group, Network of Women in Media, India, also said around 300 journalists have died as a result of Covid-19.
37 journalists died of COVID in UP, 39 in Telangana
According to the Institute of Perception Studies, Telangana recorded 39 journalist deaths from Covid-19, the highest among the states. In northern India, the highest number was recorded in Uttar Pradesh, where 37 journalists died from the infection. This is followed by 30 journalist deaths in Delhi, 24 in Maharashtra, 26 in Odisha and 19 in Madhya Pradesh. This excludes the 82 deaths that have yet to be reviewed.
According to the report, journalists between the ages of 41 and 50 accounted for 31 percent of all deaths. Around 15 percent of deaths were reported in the 31 to 40 age group, 19 percent in the 51 to 60 age group, 24 percent in the 61 to 70 age group and nine percent of those who died of Covid Journalists were over 71 years old.
SMALLER TOWNS REGISTER MORE JOURNALISTIC DEATHS
Dr. Kota Neelima said that of the journalists who died from Covid-19, 35 percent, i.e. 85 journalists, were from metropolitan areas, while 64 percent, i.e. 153 journalists, were from non-metropolitan areas, including rural India.
About 55 percent of the journalists who died of Covid-19 came from print media, 25 percent from TV and digital media and 19 percent from freelance journalism.
PRESS COUNCIL REQUESTS FRONTLINE EMPLOYEE STATUS FOR JOURNALISTS
Anand Rana, member of the Indian press council, said that a meeting of the press council in September last year called for journalists to be declared as frontline workers. Then the secretary of the council wrote a letter to all state governments. Also in April of this year, the chairman of the Indian press council wrote a letter in which he reaffirmed the demand to the governments of the states.
He also suggested that states implement the Haryana model to protect journalists. The government of Haryana offers health insurance from 5 to 20 lakh to journalists.
Anand Rana said about 16 state governments have declared journalists to be frontline warriors, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Punjab, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Kerala.
The Odisha government has announced financial support of Rs 15 lakh for the family of journalists dying of Covid-19. The government of Rajasthan has announced financial support of Rs 50 lakh. The UP government has also announced Rs 5 lakh to the relatives of the deceased journalists.
Highlights of the story:
Over 300 journalists have been killed due to Covid-19 since April last year
The most vulnerable group of journalists is between 41 and 50 years old
The majority of deaths in the media were recorded in rural India
Scribes in Telangana and UP are hardest hit
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