The devastating impact of the pandemic on media, deplorable situation in India
by Thakuria Navajyoti
Geneva/Guwahati, 30 April 2021: The Covid-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the media, the Switzerland-based media rights and safety body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) lamented last Friday in preparation for World Press Freedom Day on 3 May. The human cost of the pandemic is particularly high where over one thousand journalists have lost their lives due to novel coronavirus aggravated ailments. India recently lost over 50 journalists in 2 weeks (3.5 per day).
Journalists are engaged in a profession that is particularly exposed to the virus, as many have been forced to continue working in contact with the population. Until 29 April 2021, since March 2020, within 14 months, the PEC (www.pressemblem.ch/) has counted more than 1,200 journalists who died from complications related to Covid-19 in 75 countries.
India Third in Journalists Deaths Due to COVID-19 Globally, Finds Media Rights Body
India is only behind Brazil and Peru. The Press Emblem Campaign has noted that several mainstream media houses have not reported the actual number of casualties.
Representative image of journalists working with face masks on. Photo: PTI
Media6 hours ago
New Delhi: India is among the top three countries in the world when it comes to deaths of journalists due to COVID-19, a Geneva-based media rights body has found.
As many as three journalists have been dying in India every day out of COVID-19 complications, the Press Emblem Campaign has reported.Â