Indian Federation of Working Journalists - IFWJ

Indian Federation of Working Journalists - IFWJ An organization of journalists in India engaged in raising their professional and economic standards

03/07/2025

Confederation of Newspapers and News Agencies to Struggle for Stricter Safety and Security Laws for Employees
The Confederation of Newspapers and News Agencies employees, in a meeting held at Udaipur (Rajasthan) on 29 June 2025, have decided to campaign for the enactment of legislation ensuring the safety and security of employees in the media industry. The question of whether a change in an organisation's ownership can lead to mass employee retrenchment is a crucial concern for employees. Under Indian law, the process is closely regulated, primarily by the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and subject to judicial review. However, in the case of PTI, India’s premier news agency, the management retrenched nearly three hundred employees without proper government approval and without settling employee dues.
Meanwhile, a similar issue has arisen at another news agency, UNI, where the new management, the owners of the Statesman, has taken control. It must be noted that Statesman is itself a financially struggling newspaper, but it is eyeing the land owned by UNI, valued at hundreds of crores. The management has also dismissed old employees without paying their dues. Similar incidents have occurred at Hindustan Times and Sahara Newspapers, where workers have been left stranded. Due to the lax enforcement of retrenchment laws, workers are suffering, and regrettably, the government remains a silent spectator.
At the core of this issue lies Section 25FF of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. This provision states that upon transfer of ownership or management of an undertaking, every 'workman' who has been in continuous service for at least one year is entitled to notice and compensation as if they have been retrenched. This involves a one-month notice (or pay in lieu) and retrenchment compensation equal to fifteen days' average pay for each completed year of continuous service.
The Consent Conundrum
A significant point of legal debate has been whether employee consent is mandatory for their transfer to the new management. Rulings of the Courts emphasise that employees cannot be regarded as chattel and that their consent is essential, but in some of them it has been held that if the conditions of the proviso to Section 25FF are satisfied, a formal consent may not be necessary for the transfer of 'workmen'. For employees not classified as 'workmen' (such as managerial or administrative staff), their employment contracts primarily govern their rights and the need for consent for transfer.
Bulk Retrenchment: Not an Unrestricted Power
Even if a new owner decides against retaining the existing workforce and opts for retrenchment, it is not a straightforward process, especially for a large group of employees. The following legal principles and procedures apply:
"Last In, First Out" Principle: In cases of retrenching workmen within a specific category, Section 25G of the Industrial Disputes Act mandates following the "last in, first out" rule. Prior Government Permission for Larger Establishments: For industries employing 100 or more workers externally (the new threshold in the Labour Code is 300, which is yet to be implemented), Section 25N of the Act demands prior approval from the appropriate government before retrenching any workmen. The government will assess whether the reasons for retrenchment are genuine and adequate, considering the interests of the workers and other relevant factors. Applying for bulk retrenchment under these circumstances undergoes rigorous scrutiny, yet most managements have bypassed this requirement.
Bona Fide Reasons: Any retrenchment, whether individual or collective, must be for honest reasons. But who cares for the plight of the workers?
Due to these industry conditions, the confederation has decided to launch a nationwide campaign. This decision was approved by the confederation leadership, consisting of President Shri Ras Bihari, General Secretary Shri MS Yadav, and Vice President Shri Anil Gupta. Representatives from other organisations, such as the IFWJ, including Shri Hemant Tiwari and Parmanand Pandey, as well as from UNI (Shri ML Joshi), PTI (Shri Bhuwan Chaube), and the Indian Express (Shri CS Naidu), attended the meeting. The specific dates will be confirmed at a future meeting in New Delhi.
Parmanand Pandey
Secretary General: IFWJ

19/06/2025

Media's freedom is a fundamental right and an essential part of the constitution; any campaign to elevate it to the status of a fourth pillar is sheer absurdity.

Some journalists and their so-called organisations seem to possess an abysmally low or almost non-existent understanding of the Indian constitution. They are advocating for the media to be granted the status of a fourth pillar, akin to the Legislature, the Judiciary, and the Executive. The notion of the press as the "fourth pillar" of democracy is widely acknowledged, particularly in democratic nations, though it is not a formal designation recognised across all countries. It serves as a metaphor for the press's role in holding power accountable and informing the public.
In India, the press is often described as the fourth pillar and is constitutionally protected; however, it operates within a framework of laws that balance freedom with other societal values, such as national integrity. While freedom of the press is explicitly provided under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, in India, it is implied under Article 19(1)(a). Hence, the freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental right available to every citizen, regardless of their level of education or status.
In this context, a reference can be made to Phoolan Devi, known as the bandit queen, who later became a member of Parliament. She applied to publish a newspaper from her native district of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. The District Magistrate refused to forward her application to the Registrar of Newspapers of India on the grounds of her illiteracy. The matter escalated to the appellate authority, the Press Council of India. The then-Chairman, Justice P. B. Sawant, summoned the District Magistrate, who appeared along with an Advocate, stating how an illiterate person could serve as the printer, publisher, and editor of a newspaper. Justice Sawant asked whether it was expected that an editor should know everything if a newspaper carried diverse items such as business, sports, politics, crime, and education. The District Magistrate responded that this could be handled by other journalists employed by the newspaper, to which Justice Sawant pointed out that, similarly, Phoolan Devi could employ journalists for her publication. Ultimately, she obtained the necessary permissions to launch the newspaper. This exemplifies the beauty of the Indian Constitution.
Therefore, those demanding that the media be designated as the fourth estate are oblivious to the fact that such inclusion in the fundamental rights ensures full freedom for every journalist. Thus, the demand to establish it as a fourth pillar is not only absurd but impossible, as the basic structure of the constitution cannot be altered, as decided by the Supreme Court in the Keshavanand Bharti case.

11/06/2025

PRESS COUNCIL MUST BE DISBANDED FOR CONSTITUTING A MEDIA COUNCIL

The Press Council of India is a wholly redundant body. It is akin to a crowing hen, which is neither fit for God nor men and becomes a burden on the exchequer. It allows for self-regulation, which is often disregarded rather than adhered to. Section 14 of the Press Council Act stipulates three types of ludicrous punishments. The first is a warning; the second is a reprimand/admonishment, and the third is censure after conducting an inquiry. There is practically no material difference among all three so-called punishments.
Additionally, the Council can require newspapers to publish details of inquiries against them if it deems it necessary for the public interest. However, it cannot investigate matters that are already pending in a court of law, and its decisions cannot be challenged in court. The PCI primarily functions as a moral watchdog, ensuring that the press operates with integrity and accountability. It has no jurisdiction over the electronic or internet media.
When the Press Council was enacted on the recommendations of the first Press Commission, which was headed by Justice GS Rajyadhyaksha, who was then a judge of the Bombay High Court. The First Press Commission of India was appointed in September 1952 and submitted its report in 1954, and in the next year, i.e. 1955, the Working Journalist Act was enacted.

Other Members of the First Press Commission
The other members of the Commission included Dr. C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar, a distinguished lawyer, administrator, and politician, who played a significant role in the Madras Presidency and Travancore, serving as the Dewan of Travancore from 1936 to 1947. Acharya Narendra Dev, an eminent academician and a socialist leader, who had also served as the Vice-Chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University and the Lucknow University. Dr. Zakir Hussain, an academician and later the President of India, Dr VKRV Rao, who was the founder of the Delhi School of Economics and subsequently became a Central Minister, P. H. Patwardhan, a key leader in the Marathwada Liberation Movement, which played a crucial role in the integration of the region into India after independence. Shri Patwardhan also struggled against the Nizam of Hyderabad, which led to its annexation in 1948, Tribhuvan Narayan Singh, a journalist, a veteran freedom fighter, and a well-known politician, later became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Jaipal Singh Munda was an influential Indian politician, a writer, and sportsman, a member of the Constituent Assembly of India who passionately advocated for the rights of tribal communities. He also captained the Indian hockey team to its first-ever Olympic gold medal in 1928. J. Natarajan, known for his work on the history of Indian journalism, was also a member of the first Press Commission. The other two members were A.R. Bhat, an academician and a scientist, and M. Chelapathi Rau, an eminent journalist and the then Editor of the National Herald. The Commission made several significant recommendations that laid the groundwork for the regulation and development of the press in independent India.
Establishment of a Press Council was a crucial recommendation of the First Press Commission
The Commission suggested instituting a statutory Press Council as a quasi-judicial body to safeguard the freedom of the press, maintain and enhance journalistic standards, and formulate a professional code of conduct. The Press Council of India was subsequently established in 1966 based on this recommendation, but unfortunately, it failed to achieve its objectives.
Appointment of a Registrar of Newspapers for India
The Commission recommended the creation of a Registrar of Newspapers to maintain detailed records of newspapers and periodicals, verify circulation claims, and track ownership patterns. The RNI was established in 1956 and has since outlived its utility. Introduction of a Price-Page Schedule, which is now meaningless in the current digital media landscape, was also recommended by it.
Enactment of the Working Journalist Act
The Commission recommended measures to ensure fair wages and better working conditions for journalists, leading to the Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Services) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955. Given the unprecedented growth of electronic and internet media, print media has been relegated to an insignificant position. Furthermore, it has now been subsumed in the four labour codes.
Press Council of India Needs to be Disbanded
Therefore, the very establishment of the Press Council of India was meaningless and questionable from the very beginning. However, its worthlessness has now accentuated to an extent that it needs to be disbanded immediately, and a Media Council representative in character and consisting of eminent journalists, jurists, trade unionists, conscientious public figures, and parliamentarians, should be enacted and constituted to serve as the watchdog of the media in the truest sense of the term.

Parmanand Pandey
Secretary-General: IFWJ
(The writer has served as a member of the Press Council of India for two terms, six years, in the early nineties)

30/05/2025

हिंदी पत्रकारिता दिवस का आयोजन
नई दिल्ली, 30 मई - इंडियन फेडरेशन ऑफ वर्किंग जर्नलिस्ट्स (आईएफडब्ल्यूजे) ने हिंदी पत्रकारिता दिवस के अवसर पर इस बात पर जोर दिया है कि आने वाले दिनों में देश में हिंदी पत्रकारिता नई ऊंचाइयों को छुएगी। हिंदी पत्रकारिता के विकास से अन्य सभी भाषाओं की पत्रकारिता को नई गति मिलेगी।
हिंदी पत्रकारिता के पितामह पंडित जुगल किशोर शुक्ल को इस बात के लिए याद किया जाता है कि उन्होंने लगभग दो सौ साल पहले कलकत्ता (जिसे अब कोलकाता के नाम से जाना जाता है) जैसे गैर-हिंदी भाषी शहर में पहला हिंदी समाचार पत्र उदंड मार्तंड शुरू किया था।
सभी वक्ताओं ने कहा कि इंटरनेट और आधुनिक तकनीक के कारण प्रिंट मीडिया का दायरा सिमटता जा रहा है, जबकि फेसबुक और यूट्यूब जैसे सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफॉर्म का दायरा कल्पना से परे बढ़ता जा रहा है। इसलिए पत्रकारों को इन साधनों का भरपूर उपयोग करना चाहिए। आधुनिक मीडिया रोजगार के सीमित अवसर प्रदान करेगा, और नई पीढ़ी को अपने सामने आने वाली चुनौतियों के अनुकूल ढलने के लिए हमेशा सतर्क रहना होगा।
आईएफडब्ल्यूजे ने प्रेस परिषद के स्थान पर एक मीडिया परिषद की स्थापना की भी मांग की, जो पत्रकारों की विश्वसनीयता और आर्थिक बेहतरी सुनिश्चित करने के लिए एक निगरानी संस्था के रूप में कार्य करे।
परमानन्द पांडे
महासचिव: आईएफडब्ल्यूजे

30/05/2025

IFWJ organises Hindi Patrakarita Diwas
New Delhi, 30 May – The Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) has emphasised, on the occasion of Hindi Patrakarita Diwas, that in the days to come, Hindi journalism will achieve new heights in the country. The growth of Hindi journalism will provide a fresh impetus to journalism in all other languages.
The father of Hindi journalism, Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla, was fondly remembered by the IFWJ for having started the first Hindi newspaper, Udand Martand, nearly two hundred years ago in a non-Hindi-speaking city like Calcutta (now known as Kolkata).
All the speakers shared the view that the scope of the print medium will shrink due to the internet and modern technology, while social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube will expand beyond imagination. Therefore, communicators and journalists must utilise these tools to the fullest. Modern media will offer limited employment opportunities, and the new generation will need to remain ever vigilant to adapt to the challenges they face.
The IFWJ also demanded the establishment of a Media Council to replace the Press Council, serving as a watchdog to ensure the credibility and economic betterment of journalists.
Parmanand Pandey
Secretary General: IFWJ

12/05/2025

IFWJ Condoles the Death of its Former President K Vikram Rao

New Delhi, 12 May. About fifteen days before his 87th birthday on 29th May, the former President of the Indian Federation of Working Journalists, Shri K Vikram Rao, passed away in a hospital, where he had been admitted for respiratory issues. He was a prolific journalist and wrote in both Hindi and English with equal ease. He was the son of K Rama Rao, who was also an eminent journalist and the founding editor of the National Herald. Shri K Vikram Rao maintained good relationships with politicians of all hues and colours. He is survived by his wife, a medico, two sons, a daughter and grandchildren.

He represented the IFWJ in the Press Council of India for two terms and was a member of the Manisana and Majithia Wage Boards for newspaper and news agency employees. IFWJ President B V Mallikarjunaih has deeply condoled the passing away of Shri Rao on behalf of the organisation as well as on his own.

Parmanand Pandey

Secretary General: IFWJ

03/05/2025

New Delhi. May 3. The Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) joins the community of journalists around the world in celebrating World Press Freedom Day, which has been observed every year since 1993. It emphasises the need for a free, independent, and pluralistic press as essential to democracy and development.
The theme for 2025 is ‘Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media’, focusing on how AI is reshaping journalism in terms of both opportunities and risks. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of a free press in democracy, transparency, and accountability, while also honouring journalists who have lost their lives or faced persecution while reporting.
World Press Day is observed at the call of the United Nations General Assembly. UNESCO also marks World Press Freedom Day each year by bringing together media professionals, press freedom organisations, and UN agencies to assess the state of press freedom worldwide and discuss solutions for addressing challenges.
IFWJ President BV Mallikarjunaih and Secretary General Parmanand Pandey have lauded this year‘s theme on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is poised to bring about unimaginable changes in journalism across genres.

01/05/2025

IFWJ Demands for Expansion and Retention of the Working Journalists Act

New Delhi, 1 May. The Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) has called upon all of the country's trade unions to work unitedly to protect workers' rights. The Federation has demanded that both central and state governments ensure that labour laws are enforced to safeguard the interests of media employees.

On the occasion of May Day, IFWJ reiterated here today that the wages of media employees have not been revised for almost one and a half decades; therefore, a new wage board should be established without any further delay. The Federation has also demanded that instead of repealing the W J Act, it should be retained, with its ambit and scope expanded. The Working Journalists Act is sui generis, as it cannot be compared to workers in other sectors.

IFWJ’s Secretary General Parmanand Pandey has asked the Central government to include all media employees from electronic and web media, in addition to print media, under the Working Journalists Act to ensure that their wages and benefits are protected. Similar demands were made in a meeting held in Bangalore under the leadership of IFWJ President B.V. Mallikarjunaih and Additional Secretary General Madan Gowda, and also in Lucknow, which was organised by IFWJ Vice President Hemant and Secretary Siddharth Kalhans.

Parmanand Pandey

Secretary General: IFWJ

27/04/2025

IFWJ to launch Lecture Series in Memory of Veteran Journalists
Friends, 27.04.2025
We have been getting suggestions from different corners of the country that the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) should start an annual lecture series in the memory of two of its former stalwarts- K M Roy and P N Prasannakumar. The other names can be added later. Incidentally, both were from Kochi (and its twin town, Ernakulam). While the former Secretary General of IFWJ, Shri K M Roy, died in 2921 at the age of 84, Shri Prasannakumar passed away in March this year. He was 74. He is survived by his wife Rajani, a retired college teacher and three children. All his children live abroad (one in Canada, another in Japan, and the other in Hong Kong).
Comrade Prasannakumar was the Deputy Editor of Veekshanam, a weekly newspaper with its leaning towards the Congress Party. He was a member of the Majithia Journalists’ Wage Board, previously headed by Justice Kurup and later replaced by Justice Majithia. After coming back from Canada, he had mooted the idea of having an overseas chapter of the IFWJ in different countries. He was a member of the Working Committee of the Indian Federation of Working Journalists for a long time. Recalling his honesty and dedication, senior journalist Shri Padmanabhan says that he always worked hard for the welfare of the journalist community as the President of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists and as the secretary of Ernakulam Press Club. He was also elected twice to the Kochi Corporation Council. Comrade Prasannakumar was also a member of the syndicate of the Kochi University and Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Board.
Comrade Roy, a multi-faceted personality, was the winner Swadeshabhimani-Kesri award. He was the Secretary General of the Indian Federation and the president of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists. He made significant contributions to Malayalam and English Journalism. He had started his career in 1961 from Malayalam daily Kerala Praksham and worked for prominent publications like the Economic Times, the Hindu, the News Agency UNI and retired as the editor of the daily Mangalam.
IFWJ welcomes suggestions from its members about the proposed annual lecture series in memory of the veterans.
Parmanand Pandey
Secretary-General: IFWJ

17/03/2025

IFWJ Pays Tributes to K M Agrawal, Doyen of Journalism
We in the IFWJ are deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of veteran journalist Krishna Mohan Agrawal in a Lucknow hospital on 16th March 2025 due to heart-related issues. I have been privileged to work along with him at the daily Amrita Prabhat in Allahabad. He was a highly cultured and soft-spoken journalist. Although he hailed from Gorakhpur, many knew him from Lucknow because he was brought from the Swatantra Bharat newspaper by Shri K B Mathur, who was essentially the appointing authority for all positions at Amrita Prabhat.
He was close to eighty years of age and tended to keep personal information mostly to himself. When he left Amrita Prabhat to launch a new newspaper in Guwahati, many were taken aback. However, it proved to be a wise decision, as the extensive Hindi readership of the Northeast was in need of a local Hindi newspaper, a gap that Shri Agrawal was able to fill.
He always showed sympathy for the working class and was quite active in organising working journalists in Allahabad. He also served as an office-bearer in the UP unit of the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ). He had grown weary of the self-serving actions of some of the then office bearers of the IFWJ.
In the later years of his life, he opened a paint shop in his Maharaj Ganj district bordering Nepal. He was a prolific writer and authored numerous stories and novels.
IFWJ pays its heartfelt tributes to Shri K M Agrawal, the doyen of Hindi journalism.
Parmanand Pandey
Secretary-General: IFWJ

16/03/2025

Why do media houses not come forward to assist or support victimised journalists?

Many journalists have been killed or attacked by goondas in recent years, but media houses have neither supported nor financially assisted their bereaved families. These media outlets exploit journalists by compelling them to collect advertisements for their publications or channels and paying them a nominal commission. Occasionally, they accept news items from journalists but fail to attribute any credit or byline. They do not help these individuals obtain accreditation at the district or Tehsil level. People are also discouraged from working for multiple media outlets.

Killing or attacking any individual is condemnable, and the administration must ensure the safety and security of all. However, any attack on or killing of a journalist should be treated with the utmost seriousness as it amounts to an onslaught on the freedom of speech and expression. Recently, a local journalist, Raghvendra Vajpayee, was killed in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh by assailants; yet there has been no support for his family from Dainik Jagran, the media house he was associated with, nor has the newspaper offered any financial assistance. This reflects the conduct of media houses in our country.

Media houses do not provide written confirmation that a journalist was a ‘stringer’ for the organisation, nor do they recognise them as ‘part-time’ correspondents. Under the Working Journalist Act, a ‘part-time correspondent’ can be considered a working journalist if their principal occupation involves journalistic work, even if they are not employed full-time.

With the introduction of the four labour codes—namely, 1. Code on Wages, 2. Industrial Relations Code, 3. Code on Occupational Safety and Health, and 4. Working Conditions Code—the Working Journalist Act has been rendered obsolete, allowing media houses to exploit this situation. Genuine media organisations representing the working class must regularly monitor such exploitation; otherwise, unscrupulous associations may attempt to hijack protests for their benefit without assisting victims or their families in any way.
Parmanand Pandey
Secretary-General: IFWJ

09/03/2025

New Avatar of Iconic Statesman Building of Calcutta from Next Month, Employees Welfare Must be Kept in Mind
The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "The only constant in life is change." This idea encourages us to adapt and be open to new experiences, as resisting change can often lead to stagnation. With those changes, some people get hugely benefitted, but many of them are left high and dry. But the change should always be for the better. My friend Paritosh Mukhopadhyay, who is the Secretary General of the All-India Newspaper Employees Federation (AIENF), has informed me that more than 200-year-old iconic building of The Statesman, situated in Kolkata’s Chowringhee Road, will unveil in its new avatar from April 2025.
Paritosh Mukhopadhyay has been the leader of the many plant unions of Kolkata newspapers. At one point of time, it was unthinkable of any newspaper union of West Bengal and even Assam without Paritosh Dada. He was also a member of the Justice Rak Kumar Manisana Singh Wage Board, which was set up by the Government of India to revise the wages of the newspaper and news agency employees. I have had the privilege of appearing before the Wage Board pleading the case of the employees.
I have been a regular reader of the Statesman from my student days in Banaras Hindu University, as one of our English teachers, Dr Banerji used to exhort us to read the Statesman from Alpha to Omega to improve the English language. I visited the historical building several times and wrote many small pieces for the newspaper for paltry payments. Therefore, it's conversion to shopping malls makes us wistful and pensive, although the Statesman will continue to operate from this heritage building. The Statesman is located at the most prime locations of Kolkata. It is one Kilometre away from Raj Bhavan (Governor House) and the Writers’ Building (the Secretariat of West Bengal). The West Bengal Assembly, Esplanade, Howrah Railway Station and the Calcutta High Court are also very near to this monumental House. Similarly, top hotels of Kolkata like those of the Great Eastern Hotel, the Grand Hotel, and the Taj Bengal are located in its proximity.
We demand that the contributions of the employees of the Statesman should not be lost sight of. When the company is going to make hundreds of crores by its transformation, a certain proportion of it must be given to employees also, who have worked hard to make this newspaper a splendid one across the country. We hope that the West Bengal government would certainly work in tandem with an honest trade union leader like Paritosh Mukhopadhyay, who always considers that the interests of the workers be kept first and foremost in any transformation.

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