Protection Needed for Journalism and Working Journalists Speakers at IJU Conference
IJU NEC Bengaluru, 8 August 2026: A conference titled “Is Protection Needed for Journalism and Working Journalists?” was held in Bengaluru on Saturday under the aegis of the Karnataka State Journalists Union, an affiliate of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU). Former Supreme Court Judge Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy attended as the chief guest, while Siddharth Varadarajan, Founding Editor of The Wire, delivered the keynote address.
Speaking at the conference, Justice Sudarshan Reddy noted that the Central Government had repealed a total of 13 laws in 2020, including two laws concerning journalists. He pointed out that no specific reason was disclosed in Parliament for the repeal of these laws. He questioned whether there was any legal avenue to challenge such repeals in court.
Justice Sudarshan Reddy suggested that the media should play the role of a referee rather than that of a spectator. Expressing concern over the current state of journalism, he advised journalists of the new generation and those in digital media to conduct in-depth studies of the issues they report on and to develop a comprehensive understanding of the facts. He stated that this would significantly enhance the media’s credibility. “There is no doubt that journalists need protection,” he remarked. Siddharth Varadarajan emphatically stated that journalism and journalists in India require protection.
He noted that while defamation suits were once a primary threat faced by journalists reporting on controversial or contentious issues, the situation has now changed; he expressed concern that journalists are increasingly facing charges under laws related to sedition, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and other severe statutes. Ayesha Khanum, Chairperson of the Karnataka Media Academy, spoke on the need for journalists to remain united.
K. Srinivas Reddy, former IJU President and Chairman of the Telangana Media Academy, observed that while post-independence leaders focused on journalists’ rights and improving their working conditions, contemporary leaders seem more interested in curtailing media rights. He recalled the support extended to six national strikes—organized by central trade unions against the repeal of 13 laws (including two concerning journalists) and the introduction of four labour codes consolidating 29 laws—and noted that a memorandum opposing this repeal had been submitted to the parliamentary committee. He commended the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala for withholding the notification and implementation of these four labour codes. Srinivas Reddy added that the seminar was paving the way for the IJU’s future course of action.
This conference was held as part of the IJU National Executive Committee meetings taking place in Bengaluru on August 8 and 9. IJU President Balwinder Singh Jammu presided over the conference, while IJU Secretary General D. Somasundar delivered the welcome address. Former IJU Presidents S.N. Sinha and Devulapalli Amar, along with senior journalist Abdul Razak, also addressed the gathering. Participants included IJU Steering Committee member M.A. Majeed, Vice President Y. Narender Reddy, TUWJ President K. Virahat Ali, APUWJ President I.V. Subba Rao, General Secretary K. Jayaraj, and National Executive members K. Satyanarayana and Koona Ajay Babu, among others. The inaugural session of the IJU National Executive meeting was launched with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by Justice B. Sudarshan Reddy, Siddharth Varadarajan, and other dignitaries. The Karnataka State Journalists Union felicitated all the dignitaries present on the occasion. Karnataka State Journalists Union President Janaki Mohan proposed the vote of thanks.