Press Statement Issued by World Association of Press Councils

The World Association of Press Councils today urged all the Press or Media Councils of the world to immediately take up through their respective Governments and the United Nations, the serious issue of journalists losing their jobs, salaries, other dues and media houses being deprived of their revenues due to the COVID 19 pandemic and subsequent prolonged lockdown in their counties.

President of the WAPC, the only umbrella organization of Press/Media Councils in Asia, Europe and Africa Dr Sule Aker held a conference of Member states on Sunday which expressed serious concern over the crisis all media are facing because of the pandemic and its aftermath. At the same time WAPC which is recognized by the United Nations also decided to approach the UN and other UN affiliated bodies like UNESCO to provide possible support to the Media practitioners and Industry in this moment of unprecedented crisis.

Several journalists have died of the dreaded disease while reporting on the pandemic in different countries and many have contaminated the disease from scores of patients since they work in the same environment, Dr Sule said in a statement. Some of the journalists have lost their jobs while many others faced salary cuts. Many other coercive measures like forced leave, leave without pay, and reduction of working hours have been taken by the management and owners.

At institutional level some newspapers, magazines, periodicals, TV channels, online media and other digital media have stopped publications or operations altogether. But many other media including in big categories and established ones have stopped or downsized their publications or operations from different places. Some of them have also truncated their pages and contents because of the loss of revenue during the pandemic which has taken a heavy toll on the media as a whole.

It is an irony that readership, viewership and the hits have different media have in fact increased since people are locked down for a prolonged period and movement is restricted. But the media which provides the content in different form is facing a crisis.

The WAPC also appealed to the media house owners and management to try and minimize loss to the practitioners such as employment termination and or cutting their pays. It also urges the respective Governments to intervene immediately and save the media which is the fourth pillar of democracy. The Council also urged all Government and Media Houses to keep the interest of the media persons uppermost in their mind and ensure that media personnel are provided with PPE and other equipment to facilitate them working whenever necessary.

Dr Sule and Mr Kishor Shrestha, Secretary General of the WAPC shot off letters to all Press/Media Councils to impress upon their Governments to immediately intervene and save the media in this unprecedented pandemic. They have also taken up with the UN and its affiliated UNESCO to help the media in this crisis. (eom)