All is not well in media…it’s time to look into alternatives
3 min read
Bengaluru: Whenever journalists meet, it’s obvious that the discussion is about ‘the field that was, is and will be in the future’.
It was good earlier, albeit starting with a few thousands of salary that became fat and fat after gaining a few years of experience, the norm that existed till a few years ago.
Now, the discussions are about how the once considered media barons are finding it much difficult in print and visual media. Eventually, the impact narrows down to journalists and those carrying a hefty pay every month.
Thanks to the advent of digital media that is fast surpassing the media in particular, with the media houses focusing more on strengthening their digital arm for online editions than the customary set up that ensured their bread and butter till the last few years.
Take the case of Karnataka’s pride Deccan Herald and Prajavani, published by The Printers Mysore Limited. When K N Guruswamy founded TPML forayed into media, like any other venture, it was also replete with pitfalls. After initial drawbacks, it grew into a behemoth, so much so that it indeed snatched the sleep of many. Till date, it continues to be an opinion maker, even after 62 years of its inception, despite the numbers has brought it down to second among the list of dailies in circulation.
With the media going through its worse phase, talks centre around the pink slips TPML is handing out to its long standing employees in the recent days. Strange is, those found adept earlier are termed inept now, a just(?!) reason to show them doors. While transfers are routine in Prajavani, some are even transferred to Srinagar ( a Kannada daily Correspondent in far away valley sounds strange) in Jammu and Kashmir for the reasons best known to authorities in the organisation.
Those were the days, when a job in TPML was considered equal to that of a government job, which provided not just job security but also many benefits like PF, ESI, bonus, allowances etc., as old timers still recall with pride of meeting their commitmen- of either building a house or marrying off their progeny with the savings.
Times of India the largest circulating daily in the state and its sister publication Vijaya Karnataka is also on the same path, when it comes to retrenchment and is at it since long. VK has shown doors to many Journalists, while TOI recruits more as stringers for a basic pay than staffers.
Vijayavani and Digvijaya TV the transport baron Vijay Sankeshwar founded newspaper and vernacular TV channel respectively, removed many journalists numbering over 100 citing a huge loss in the recent months (in late 2019). In the cases of few journalists, the opinion of bureau chiefs mattered and those loyal to the heads were retained, while youngsters had to pay for it.
It’s already known what’s happening in The Hindu group, which a few years ago shut down its bureaus in most of the districts and inter- transferred its staff only to avoid new recruitments. The new recruitments were freezed and the situation prevails still.
Recently some of the seniors were forced to opt for voluntary retirement scheme ( VRS) and some grabbed it without blinking an eye. A journalist will never say no when he or she is carrying home their legitimate earning of lakhs of rupees in one shot.
The New Indian Express though an off shoot of its earlier avatar of Indian Express, with limited circulation seems to have had gauged the situation since long. However, the employees were benefitted with hikes after appraisals in time, effective from April, the beginning of new fiscal every year.
However, there is no sight of appraisal form yet in TNIE too this year, grumble some of the journalists who are pushed to the edge, especially after less than 100 journalists and non- journalists lost their jobs after Deccan Chronicle shut down its Bengaluru edition recently. Though some are retained for online editions, the writing in general is clear on the wall.
All is not well and it’s time Journalists think of alternatives for their ache din!
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
