Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 17: Kashmir National TV Journalists Associations (KNTJ), a collective body of broadcast professionals has decided to take up the issues faced by working TV journalists in the valley. Over the period of time it has been seen that authorities tend to ignore the challenges faced by TV crews while covering news events in the conflict. Several instances have come forth in the recent past, which indicate how camera persons have become the target of security forces while delivering their duties. In a conflict zone like Kashmir the real time coverage of events exposes the journalists particularly TV crews to grave dangers. One expects the authorities to keep these challenges in minds and adhere to a basic set of procedures to ensure safety of the professionals on the ground. KNTJ has resolved to work towards advocating for the betterment of the broadcast community in Kashmir. In this regard the executive body of the group held a meeting in Srinagar and designated four members namely Mufti Islah- Bureau incharge CNN IBN, Shuja-ul-Haq- Bureau incharge Headlines Today, Manoj Kaul- Bureau incharge ETV News and Mir Fareed- Bureau Incharge Timesnow. Basic purpose of the core group will be to take the concerns of the entire group forward, advocate and discuss safety procedures for the community at large and also take up the grievances of the professionals on the field.
The association will write to apex bodies like Press Council of India, National Broadcasting Association on the day to day issues faced in Kashmir. The group has also decided to meet the authorities in order to start a systematic process of ensuring safety of the working TV journalists. KNTJ has a clear support from most broadcast valley based journalists. A meeting held on Saturday in Srinagar included representation from prominent news bureaus like NDTV, CNN IBN, Headlines Today, Timesnow, NewsX, IndiaTV, ETV News, Sahara TV, ABP News, ANI, APTN, IBN7, P7, PTC, NWS and Kolkata TV. Though KNTJ has been primarily formed keeping the challenges of broadcast professionals in mind, it however appeals for unity among all news professionals across the board on the issues of safety of journalists in general. |
