Unconfirmed reports of journalists across the country of a prominent Chennai-based media companyt being informally offered "option" of "resigning" "voluntarily" or to face the sack. Clearly, lockdown is ideal for dark business.
Sources indicate the offer is of "severance" pay of 3 months pay, which is anyway the notice period. Shockingly, the "offer" is completely informal - no written terms on offer. Totally verbal, issued by section heads. This is like the zaminadari are back!
At least 40-50 jobs countrywide may be at risk in this round, the first coordinated shedding of working journalists.
Its a sad day for Indian journalism. A slap in the face of those who swore in the name of the cardinal virtues of good journalism, ethics and morality, to behave like just any other malik doing business.
After all, till the other day, these maliks were claiming that somehow journalism is not just another business and that it was a noble calling, in the service of the people. This justified protection, privilege and justified it being treated as a "pillar" of our democracy.
So, if a media company can hire and fire at will, isnt it behaving just like, say a biscuit or a cement company? Then, why does it deserve protection in the pretext of serving a public purpose? Why should journalism be regarded as a higher calling? Why, why, why?
@threadreaderapp Pl unroll
