If public interest is the basis of media reform then the professional and economic independence of media practitioners is a yardstick to measure the scenario.
From the multi-edition big newspapers to the small town tabloids a de-unionised workforce is the norm. The implications are manifold: contract labour, job insecurity, harassment of various kinds and so on, are common. There are obvious difference in the manner in which journalist will react to any attempt at unionising. For instance, organising personnel in the hyper-commercialised broadcast sector could be almost impossible.
But as India hurtles towards corporatisation of media, it because important for progressive elements to focus on the inadequacies in the system not necessarily in terms of media policy alone but also on the organic aspects of media entities.
Read Free Press’ views on Labour Rights.
