Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that journalism has changed over the years and that a section of the media has become partisan. “It’s a dangerous trend for society,” he said, while assuring that he continued to be friendly to the media fraternity. He was addressing a gathering of journalists at the 11th plenary session of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) at Thummalapalli Vari Kalakshetram in Vijayawada. He went on to state that there was a need to separate professional media from political media, as he opposed politicians owning media houses. He recollected pivotal moments in history when the media played a key role, citing the coverage of the Emergency and the Bofors case. He also recalled past instances when he addressed issues raised by the media. He promised to look into the issues of journalists that were brought to his notice, which included allotting space in Amaravati for the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) office.
On a day when the proposal of Amaravati as the capital was made into a statutory legislation in the AP Assembly, Mr. Naidu pitched Amaravati as “Hyderabad Plus”, stating that it would be integrated with technology with the tag of a greenfield city. AP Information Minister K. Parthasarathy praised the media for supporting their protests and movements even when their party was out of power. Speaking earlier, Indian Journalists Union (IJU) president K. Sreenivas Reddy demanded the restoration of the Working Journalists Act, constitution of a new Wage Board, and enactment of fresh laws to safeguard media independence.
He said there had been no wage revision for journalists for nearly two decades, leaving them in conditions worse than those in the unorganised sector. “Democracy cannot function without a strong and independent press. Unfortunately, the media is not only being neglected but also systematically controlled by the State,” he observed. Sreenivas Reddy pointed out that basic issues such as regulated working hours and night duty norms were often ignored by managements. He also noted that traditional media was “crumbling under the weight of digital (social) media,” with newspapers and television channels facing intense competition for viewership. He cited the recent takeover of the UNI office in New Delhi by authorities as an example of growing intolerance. “The plenary has resolved to push for reconstitution of the Press Council of India into a Media Council of India with stronger powers,” he added.
IJU Secretary-General Balwinder Singh Jammu said the condition of journalists was deteriorating across the country, citing instances of attacks and killings. “Journalists today face grave danger while performing their duties, both within the country and abroad. Authorities are increasingly intolerant of free speech and a free press,” he said. Vijayawada West legislator Y. Satya Narayana (Sujana Chowdary) expressed concern over the unchecked rise of social media. “Social media is increasingly becoming anti-social media without adequate checks and balances. Journalism must be guided by values, and mechanisms should be evolved to verify the authenticity of news. I am not advocating control, but proper guidelines are necessary,” he said.
Senior journalist R.V. Rama Rao said the media was increasingly being subjugated by owners and stressed the need to promote independent journalism. “IJU should explore ways to strengthen independent media that can express views without fear or favour,” he said. L. Krishna Devarayalu, floor leader of the TDP parliamentary party, also addressed the session. He said that in the rapidly changing media landscape, where audience attention span is decreasing and ad revenues are drying up amid the digital revolution, credibility and factual dissemination of news should be the top priority for news outlets. He hailed some YouTube channels and news publications as doing a “fantastic job” with impressive research. He shared that he cited their work during his speeches in Parliament.
AP Press Academy Chairman Alapati Suresh Kumar earlier read out a message from Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanadh (Chinni). The Chairman later said that the Academy was cataloguing the work of 25 editors of Telugu origin and also working with rural journalists in the state to enrich them professionally.
Earlier, IJU leaders from across the country paid floral tributes to the departed senior journalists Ambati Anjaneyulu, K. Amarnath, Premnath Bhargav, and Manikonda Chalapati Rao for their contributions to the union.
The proceedings began with the hoisting of the IJU flag by K. Sreenivas Reddy. Senior leaders of the IJU, S.N. Sinha, Devulapalli Amar, M.A. Majid, the newly elected Secretary-General of the IJU D. Soma Sundar, Amar Mohan Prasad, Y. Narendar Reddy, DSR Subhash, and other national leaders participated. The reception committee team, headed by I.V. Subba Rao, President of the APUWJ, welcomed a large number of delegates, numbering around 300, from more than 20 states.
A number of resolutions were also passed on the second day of the three-day plenary, which began on March 27. Elections to elect office-bearers, including executive committee members, will be held on the final day of the plenary, March 29. The plenary was held in the Vijayawada after a gap of three decades. Cultural programmes marked the occasion, with artistes from the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) presenting patriotic and thought-provoking songs. Veteran mimicry artist Sylvester entertained the delegates, while young dancers from the city performed Kuchipudi ballets.