New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India on Friday condemned incidents of abuse and intimidation of senior journalists in the run-up to the parliamentary election and urged the government to take necessary steps to bring the abusers to book.
The strong condemnation from the Editors Guild comes days after alleged harassment of journalist Barkha Dutt on social media. Dutt has alleged that she had received threat calls and had been harassed on social media after she offered to help Kashmiris who were being targeted following the Pulwama terror attack.
The Editors Guild of India has issued a statement. pic.twitter.com/fWUDRQ7v9s
— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) February 22, 2019
Several other senior journalists have also been targeted on social media with abuse and intimidation.
The Guild, in a statement, said it strongly condemns the recent tirade of abuse and intimidation against the media and many senior journalists, especially women, in the wake of their reportage and commentary in the run-up to the general elections.
“Since much of this is being done through social media, especially Twitter, the Guild urges their respective managements to exercise due caution and a sense of responsibility,” the statement said.
“Some of what is being allowed to pass clearly amounts to sexual abuse or instigation to violence. Corporations owning these platforms need reminding themselves that they must not allow unlawful behaviour. Business models thriving on hate of any kind are reprehensible,” it said.
The Guild said it believes there is no place for such social media abuse and threats of physical violence in a democracy.
Differences of opinion should be respected and resolved through a robust but civil dialogue and debate, it said.
The Guild had issued a statement on some of these issues on 3 June, 2018, as well.
The Guild urged the government to take necessary steps to bring the abusers to book.
“Police cybercrime cells should address these complaints on priority. The relevant ministries and regulators should also ensure greater clarity on the laws to ensure accountability on the part of social media platforms,” it said.
Laws on sexual harassment, intimidation and incitement to violence should be strictly enforced on those using social media and nobody should be allowed to hide behind anonymity, the Guild said.
Also read: Editors Guild condemns denial of entry to J&K journalists into Srinagar stadium on R-Day
But she is not journalist but an Urban Terrorists to whom other Media Terrorist now giving cover…
Shame on this lobby who now overstepping to defame nation for their Narration Management objective for their political bosses…
The so called journos are prestitutes and corrupt. In the name of freedom of speech they support anti nationals and promote hidden agendas. How do one explain a wealthy lifestyle of these journos..by the way who gives a damn to editor guild..bunch of self serving individuals
What when she abuses her own country and glorifies wahni, abuses army. She is getting back what she deserves. She is like :उल्टा चोर कोतवाल को डांटे.
Very one sided article, we can all agree threats is non right but what do these senior journalists have to say about their questionable conduct on behalf of powerful interests ? Burkha Dhut is synonymous with political corruption in the press and if the editors guild wants to put its head in the sand like an ostrich so be it. Not impressed by idiots on social media making threats or by so called senior journalists selling their profession to the highest bidder. Padmi Shri anyone?
Trolling is for losers! Does this obvious fact absolve so called eminent journalists from being moored to any principals of professionalism? Why didn’t The Print mention Barkha Dutt was their anchor/early investor as a disclaimer to this article? Further, why is there no mention of Burkha Dutts exposure on many questionable acts, including during the UPA coalition formation and her possible role in facilitating Ministrial positions in that government. Does the Press understand how badly it’s credibility is hit when it allows such incidents to go so lightly?
This seems more like a ‘club’ coming out to protect their own. It bears remembering, the Editers Guild was quick off the mark in defending Barkha Dutt post her exposure in the Radia Tapes leaks. In fact they called people questioning her ethics as “jealous” of her, which was shocking considering the sorts of conversations she was having, did not appear to be connected to journalism at all. I do not condone threats or violence. I also do not condone the Editors Guild intervening in a unbalanced and biased manner consistently on the side of individuals who have fall short of the standards expected for their profession. Every time they do so, they bring down their image in the eyes of the public and we are more skeptical of what they have to say on anything at all.
No person should be threatened on social media for their individual views. However, after the Pulwama attack I have seen comments by Pakistanis flooding news feeds of mainstream TV channels on social media. They are downright abusive. Can’t the Editor’s Guild request these channels to filter those comments at a time when emotions are running high in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack?
BARKHA DUTT IS THE BEST TV ANCHOR, THAT I HAVE SEEN
SHE IS BOLD, INTELLIGENT, ARTICULATE AND ABOVE ALL, THE MOST WELL READ JOURNALIST .SHE’S VICTIM OF PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY. GOD BLESS HER
Barkha Dutt once supported rapists also.
Completely unacceptable. Disagreeing with someone on political / ideological grounds is fine; any journalist who expresses herself with candour and is on social media should expect a flurry of divergent views. What Ms Barkha Dutt and other senior journalists have been subjected must be in violation of several criminal laws. DGPs should make an example of these offenders. These attacks actually signify that an argument is now being comprehensively lost.