Journalists' Union of Assam (JUA) expresses concern over disorderly news

GUWAHATI: The Journalists' Union of Assam (JUA) has appreciated the journalists who are discharging their duties from the frontline of the COVID-19 reporting and also the doctors and other health workers, administration and law-enforcing authorities for their dedicated works to combat the pandemic in the State.

In a press communiqué the JUA has, however, expressed serious concern at the state of great confusion created by disorderly news and information sharing system by the State Government and other authorities concerned. Unverified news, conjecture and rumours circulated through myriads of digital platforms and conventional outlets have made the situation worse.

The JUA has observed that the government has no single window or a notification centre through which it publishes important notifications relating to lockdown, containment zones or quarantine rules, rights and duties of the COVID-19 patients and their relatives. Therefore, the journalists have to run from pillar to post, browse many administrative windows to feed the people with proper and genuine news and to apprise them about the real ground situation on the pandemic.

The JUA said in a statement that the government should create a single window for all of its notifications and directions where from the journalists can gather timely information relating to the pandemic in the State and also urged the government to conduct daily virtual press briefing system.

The union has also expressed grave concern for many frontline journalists now suffering from infections for their exposure to the virus while discharging duties. The JUA demands a protection protocol for the journalists who are reporting the pandemic and other deadly situations, a press release said.

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