IFWG demands setting up of new Wage Board

Sharavanabelagola, Feb 22 (UNI) Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) President K Vikram Rao today urged the Union Government to immediately set up a new Wage Board for Journalists and Non-Journalists.

Speaking at the 62nd Annual Convention of the IFWJ here, he said successive governments had failed to set up a new wage board, despite the price index and inflation figures having changed dramatically over the decade. ''We demand a living wage for journalists,'' he declared.

Coming down heavily on the functioning of Press Council of India (PCI), Mr Rao said the Council was ''dead'' and consequently the media had become a victim of ''yellow journalism'' and ''blackmailing.'' ''We have to evolve a code of conduct for ourselves and set up a National Media Council, replacing the dead PCI. The new Council should have representatives from the electronic media too as this the only way we can put an end to the irresponsible journalism,'' he added.

Referring to large English newspapers selling their product at throwaway prices for establishing monopoly in the industry, Mr Rao said this ''unholy'' price war was killing language publications and adversely affecting small and medium newspapers. ''If this trend continues, Indian democracy will be killed as instead of the people, the Board of Directors of monopoly press will be electing the future PMs and CMs of the country.

He demanded that the Centre fix a page-price ratio in order to curb such unfair trade practices.

UNI MSP RG TS1840