AMWJU, EGM urge Govt not to take harsh action
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 27 2021:
A joint meeting of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) standing committee and advisory committee along with Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) held through discussion of the statement made by chief minister N Biren Singh during a public function against a local newspaper for publishing a report based on COVID-19 vaccination and resolved to appeal to government not to take any harsh action.
Detailing minutes of the meeting held at Manipur Press Club on Sunday, a joint statement of AMWJU standing committee and advisory committee and EGM pointed out that the news report published by the local newspaper recently was based on the Delhi-based news agency Indo Asian News Service (IANS) and the same report was found to be authentic and widely reported by national and international media.
The report relates to vaccination of COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer and Moderna in America and it was not related with COVID-19 vaccines used in India namely Covishield and Covaxin.
Apart from this, the report published by the local media was published in inner page and not as lead story in front page and it was a normal story, the joint statement said, adding that the report had nothing to create panic among public about COVID-19 vaccination.
Some national media like the Hindustan Times, CNBC and India TV also carried the same news story but the Union government is yet to make any statement that the news created panic among public about COVID-19 vaccination.
Apart from this, Manipur's vaccination percentage of more than 25 percent is more than the national average and hence the joint meeting disapproved the claim of creating panic among public about COVID-19 vaccination by publishing the IANS report and condemned the claim, the joint statement said.
The joint meeting also strongly disapproved and condemned attempts being made to create panic among public by uploading fabricated report of the news report on social media.
The meeting also condemned those lambasting Manipur media on social media by using the news report and appealed to the government to look into the matter, the joint statement said, adding that media persons of the state are working day and night amidst the pandemic for the welfare of the people.
It also said that AMWJU and EGM are always ready to rectify mistake, if any, reported in local media in public interest and door for discussion in this regard is widely open.
The joint statement also appealed to public to discuss any problem relating to news reports published in local media with AMWJU and EGM functionaries instead of highlighting the problem on social media.
Media fraternity of Manipur whole heartedly support government's COVID-19 vaccination drive, the joint statement said and appealed to the government to organise media awareness and press briefing to remove 'vaccine hesitancy' .
Media are always ready to extend help in such initiatives of the government, it said and appealed to government not to take any harsh action regarding the report published in a local media about COVID-19 vaccination.