New Delhi: The majority of journalists laid off during the Covid-19 pandemic were forced to resign or terminated, according to a Press Council of India (PCI) report titled “Report on Retrenchment of Journalists by Media Groups during the Covid-19 Period.” The report, based on testimonies from 51 journalists, found that 80% of them experienced involuntary resignations, with only 25% receiving formal notifications. Most retrenchments were communicated verbally, and only 37% received severance pay.
The retrenchments, estimated to affect 2,300 to 2,500 journalists, hit English-language media the hardest. Kavitha Iyer, formerly of The Indian Express, and Ashish Rukhaiyar of The Hindu were among those forced to resign without proper notice. Many journalists had to dip into savings or take loans to survive. Photographers like Deepak Turbhekar, with 16 years at Mumbai Mirror, were left without financial stability, some even selling personal belongings.
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The emotional toll was significant, with 80% of journalists reporting emotional distress, depression, and social withdrawal. The report highlights the threat to press freedom, urging better job security and mental health support for journalists. It calls for government action to introduce contracts with minimum tenure, insurance, and improved compensation.
The report underscores the long-lasting impact of the pandemic on the media industry and the urgent need for reform to protect journalists’ rights and press freedom.
