By Pradeep Phutela
The first National Executive Meeting of the Senior Journalists Federation of India was organized in Goa with the objective of discussing the problems faced by senior journalists across the country, their rights, and the challenges confronting journalism within the changing media landscape. Approximately 70 senior journalists, hailing from regions spanning from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, participated in this significant meeting held at the Maharaja Agrasen Bhawan in Old Goa. During the meeting, intensive deliberations were held regarding the welfare of journalists, social security, and the evolving nature of the media world, leading to the adoption of several key resolutions.
The meeting unanimously called upon the Central and State governments to resolve issues concerning senior journalists on a priority basis. Particular emphasis was placed on subjects such as the implementation of a Journalists' Protection Act, increasing pension amounts for senior journalists, restoring the 50 percent concession on rail travel—as was previously available—and providing facilities related to healthcare and housing.
Participants in the meeting included the Federation's National President Sandeep Dixit, General Secretary N.P. Chekutty, and Vice Presidents Anandam Pulipalpula, Suhasini Prabhugaonkar, Chandraprakash Bhardwaj, Ashwini Kumar, Benudhar Pandya, Shanta Kumari, Kanhu Nanda, Rangaraj, K.P. Vijay Kumar, Sundar Rajan, Franco Louis, Reema, Ramachandran, Pradeep Phutela, Saba Narayanan, Parameshwar Rao, Bhupathi, and Srinivas Reddy, alongside other senior journalists and executive members from various states.
A special panel discussion on the topic of "Social Security for Journalists" was also organized during the meeting. Speakers noted that while journalists serve as the "Fourth Pillar of Democracy" by bringing the voice of society to the forefront, they often lack adequate social security and financial stability despite their efforts. Therefore, establishing a robust social security framework for journalists is the need of the hour. Senior journalists and representatives of journalists' organizations from various states—including Kerala, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Telangana—also participated in the discussions. During the proceedings, the status of journalists in different states, the facilities available to them, and the challenges they face were discussed in detail.
Discussing New Challenges for Journalism in the Digital Age
It was noted during the meeting that the field of journalism is undergoing rapid transformation in the current era. The growing influence of digital media, social media, and artificial intelligence has completely altered the landscape of news media. In such times, journalists must maintain the credibility and ethical standards of journalism while adapting to new technologies. Speakers emphasized that the greatest challenge facing the media today is maintaining credibility. Amidst the prevalence of fake news, unverified information, and the fast-paced nature of social media, the need for factual and responsible journalism has become more critical than ever before.
Deliberations on the Federation's Action Plan and Organizational Structure
Sandeep Dikshit, National President of the Federation, and N. Chekutty, General Secretary, stated that this marks the first in-person National Executive Meeting of the Indian Senior Journalists Federation. They explained that the objective of this meeting is to provide a common platform for senior journalists across the country and to formulate concrete strategies to safeguard their interests. The meeting also involved detailed deliberations on the Federation's constitution, administrative framework, and future action plan. Furthermore, a consensus was reached on developing a robust national-level network to protect the interests of journalists.
During the meeting, a commemorative souvenir published by the Kerala Senior Journalists Federation was also released. On this occasion, journalists from various states shared their experiences in the field of journalism and emphasized the importance of strengthening the organization.
Senior journalists, photojournalists, and media representatives from numerous states—including Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Odisha—were present at this national meeting.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a resolution was adopted to launch a vigorous national-level campaign to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of journalists, thereby further strengthening the role of journalism within a democratic framework.
