Journalists’ Union of Assam (JUA) while appreciating the journalists who are discharging their duties from the frontline of the Covid19 reporting and also the doctors and other health workers, administration and law enforcing authorities for their dedicated works to combat the pandemic in the state, expresses serious concern at the state of great confusion created by disorderly news and information sharing system by the state government and other concerned authorities. Unverified news, conjecture and rumours circulated through myriads of digital platforms and conventional outlets have made the situation worse. JUA observes that the government has no single door window or a notification centre through which it publishes important notifications relating lock down, containment zones or quarantine rules, rights and duties of the Covid-19 patients and their relatives. Therefore the journalists have to run from pillar to post, browse many administrative windows to feed the people with proper and genuine news and to apprise them about the real ground situation on the pandemic. JUA said in a statement that the government should create a single window for all of its notifications and directions wherefrom the journalists can gather timely information relating to the pandemic in the state and also urged the government to conduct daily virtual press briefing system.
JUA has also expressed grave concern for many frontline journalists are now suffering from infections for their exposure to the virus while discharging duties. JUA demands a protection protocol for the journalists who are reporting the pandemic and other deadly situations. Earlier the Indian Journalists Union. JUA demands the state government to take up a universal health insurance for all the journalists of the state.
JUA demands single window for Covid-19 related information. Asks government to clear confusion and security protocol for journalists covering pandemic.
