Scribes want govt to scrap GO 239

​Siddipet: Journalists belonging to small newspapers and electronic media warned of serious consequences, if G.O. 239 issued by the State government, that laid down the guidelines for issuing accreditation to journalists was not immediately cancelled.

Journalists belonging to print and electronic media in Siddipet district peacefully protested in front of the District Collectorate on Friday, with Congress, BJP and civil society organisations extending support to the distressed journalists.

“Those journalists working in big media outlets shouldn’t forget that most of them started their career with small media outlets. Just because they are now making good money and are also leaders of journalists’ unions launching their own media outlets, they have become selfish and are being content with getting accreditation for themselves.

They are the betrayers among journalists,” commented Jaipal, a senior journalist and editor of Journalist Jwala a Telugu daily.

Without an accreditation card, it would become impossible for journalists to apply for free bus pass, health cards and 2BHK houses.

If accreditation is not issued to journalists of small newspapers who barely get government advertisements, it would become a survival issue for these outlets, say the journalists who came together under the banner of Telangana Journalists JAC.

The journalists are also against categorisation of journalists as A, B, C and D based on the size of the media outlet and empanelment.

“Is their any scientific way to measure the worth of a journalist? Is it the size of the firm he works for? Is it based on how many ads the newspaper or electronic media gets?

Or is it based on the contribution of the journalist to social progress through his/her/others’ meaningful stories?” asked Prasad, Co-convener of JAC and Editor of Palleturu monthly magazine and Janamthodu Telugu daily, questioning the logic within GO 239 in recognising true journalists.