PCI for two-minute silence in newsrooms on November 2

NEW DELHI: To protest against states’ failure to bring to book perpetrators of violence against journalists, the Press Council of India (PCI) wants media to protest symbolically by blacking out news for two minutes on November 2 every year.
“The PCI may proclaim November 2 as the National Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and ask all newsrooms across the country to observe two-minute silence in newsrooms,” it said in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court in the case of UP journalist Jagendra Singh’s murder.
Requesting the SC to lay down guidelines on safety of journalists, the PCI said, “Journalists reporting sensitive stories are in the position of whistleblowers who are entitled to protection. Safety of journalists requires the highest priority to protect the freedom of speech as also the freedom of information available to every citizen under article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.”
The print media regulatory body said around 80 journalists were killed in the last two decades but almost all cases were pending trial. “In states like Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, not a single person was convicted for killing or attacking journalists. In these states, more than 60 journalists were killed in the last two decades,” it said.
The PCI said it has recommended to the government for enacting a law to deal with crimes against journalists. It said in the absence of a specific law, cases relating to such offences keep pending in trial courts, which are already inundated under an avalanche of pending cases.
After a four-year study, the PCI said, “Most of the journalists felt that whenever a journalist was killed, the state government concerned, including chief minister and political leaders, react and promise stringent action. After the din and noise die down, no further action is taken. Most state governments never come forward to compensate the families of the slain journalists.”
Apart from using violence to silence the media, the PCI appeared worried by the recent trend of journalists threatened with character assassination using names of women. “Incidents of using names of women for character assassination of journalists and to pressurize them are increasing each day,” it said.
The council said similar tactics was used by UP police in Jagendra Singh murder case. “Police repeatedly mentioned the presence of Anganwadi worker Shalini in Jagendra’s house but they did not care to find her and record her statement,” it said.
It said the Shahjahanpur district administration has not shown seriousness to investigate the murder of the journalist. “In view of the seriousness of the case and the delay in conducting inquiry, the UP government should get this case thoroughly investigated by an impartial agency,” the PCI said.