Covid-19 killing four journos every day in May, says report

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As the pandemic rages on, one of the most consumed in the country appears to be information with the common people depending on journalists to bring them the latest updates on the infection, its fallout in society, containment methods and possible cures.

But journalists have been suffering a lot of fatalities in the past several months. Many scribes have lost their lives in the second wave of the virus.

A recent study that by Delhi-based Institute of Perception Studies has revealed that a total of 346 journalists have died of Covid-19 between April 2020 and May 18, 2021.

But Press Council of India claimed that the figure is much higher if the death of block-level scribes is taken into account.

Four scribes a day

Other sources put the number of total deaths to 350, since 90-95 deaths are in the process of validation and cross-checks.

In April, when the second COVID wave became noticeable, three journalists died every day. But in May the average daily number climbed to four.

The wave has taken lives of not only well-known journalists but also many scribes who work in districts, towns and villages level across the country.

Second wave

 According to the findings of the institute, 57 journalists lost their lives in the first wave. But the number multiplied by more than 3 times to reach 188 between April 1 and May 18, 2021.

Those who have lost their lives were actively involved in the job of gathering and writing news. They belonged to reputed media institutions, stringers, freelancers and photojournalists.

Already 350?

“Till now we have been able to cross check and verify information related to 253 scribes and we have information of another 93 persons in our hand. So, till May 18 the death figure might be around 350,” said Kota Neelima, director of the institute.

Many states are also giving priority to the journalists when administering vaccines. West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka already inoculated more than half of the journalists.

State-wise toll

According to the study, Uttar Pradesh tops the chart accounting for 57 deaths, followed by Telangana with 45. The national capital of New Delhi has recorded 35 fatalities along with Maharashtra.

Madhya Pradesh witnessed 42 deaths over the last couple of months and Odisha is clocking with 32 deaths so far. Bengal has recorded 7 till May 18.

Around 86 journalists who died are from metro cities while 167 are from non-metro cities and smaller towns, the study reveals.

Age-wise

The study reveals that 31% of the journalists who died were between 41 and 50 while 20% were between 51 and 60.

As many as 21% of those dead belonged to the 60—70-year age group. Those younger – between 31 and 40 years – constituted 16% of the fatalities.

PCI stand

In April 2021, Press Council wrote to all states to include journalists in group insurance schemes. The Haryana government has already complied with the request.

Press Council of India made a demand to declare journalists as frontline workers during a press council meeting in September last year. A number of states have already accepted the plea.

These states include Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Manipur, Punjab, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.

The Odisha government has announced financial assistance of Rs 15 lakh for next of kin of journalists who died of COVID. In Rajasthan the aid is of Rs 50 lakh, while in Uttar Pradesh, the assistance is of Rs 5 lakh.

In December, different unions of journalists earlier submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare journalists as COVID-19 warriors.

““Like police or doctors, journalists are also fighting this pandemic from the front. We are updating our data every day. The figure would rise, I am sure,” said Kota Neelima, director.