The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editor’s Guild Manipur (EGM) have decided to urge the state government to recognise working journalists and other media workers as frontline warriors and announce the same.
The AMWJU and EGM stated in a release that the resolution was taken during an emergency meeting of which was held at Manipur Press Club in Imphal on Wednesday, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect media personnel from the dreaded virus.
The meeting also resolved to issue several ‘Dos and Don’ts’ which include banning of all press meets, conferences, and public gathering at Manipur Press Club for the time being, the release stated.
“All reporters and correspondents have been advised against participating in a press meet called by any individual or organisation,” it added.
It requested all organisations and individuals wishing to hold or release press statements to self-record and send the press release, statement or video clips through electronic means via email or at the WhatsApp number of respective individual’s media firms or to the authorised given WhatsApp number 8259860539 and email-amjwu1974@gmail.com.
It also advised all reporters against taking part in any media tour or programme for the time being. All government press communications are requested to be sent through the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) or to the authorised given WhatsApp number 8259860539 and email-amjwu1974@gmail.com, it stated.
The government health authority is requested to provide a list of panel members authorised to speak, participate or give comment in a panel discussion or query from media houses in connection to COVID-19 and its related issues, it added.
