Hyderabad: Journalists protest Hyderabad was held at Gun Park on Friday, as IJU and TUWJ leaders demanded stronger safeguards for press freedom and journalists’ rights. A large number of journalists gathered opposite the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Gandhi Jayanti.
The protest followed a call from the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and took place under the aegis of the Telangana State Union of Working Journalists (TUWJ). During the protest, participants raised slogans seeking an immediate resolution to their long-pending demands.
In addition, the journalists demanded protection of media freedom and a special law to ensure their safety and security. They also sought stronger institutional measures to protect their professional interests.
Telangana Media Academy Chairman and former union president K Srinivas Reddy urged the Central and State governments to give priority to journalists’ key concerns. Among the issues he cited were job security, healthcare, housing plots, accreditation and effective implementation of welfare schemes.
Responding to the IJU’s nationwide call, journalists in several states were highlighting their grievances before their respective governments, Srinivas Reddy said. He described the press as the “fourth pillar” of democracy. At the same time, he stressed the need for greater attention to journalists’ wages, working conditions, job security and social security.
Srinivas Reddy further said journalists played a key role in upholding democratic values and protecting press freedom. He also stressed that transparency and accountability were essential for strengthening public confidence in democratic and electoral processes.
Journalists protest Hyderabad over welfare and professional security
As Media Academy chairman, Srinivas Reddy assured the gathering that he would raise journalists’ issues with the Telangana government. In particular, he referred to the promised health cards, housing plots and welfare schemes.
Meanwhile, senior journalist and IJU Steering Committee Member Devulapalli Amar said independent journalism remained essential to democracy. He described the media as a bridge between people and the government and said it had a responsibility to bring public issues to the forefront.
Amar highlighted the importance of investigative journalism. According to him, every news report should rely on evidence, documents and responses from relevant stakeholders. Therefore, he said independence, fact-checking, accountability and public interest should remain central to journalism.
He also linked these principles to efforts to strengthen public trust in the media. Further, Amar called on journalists across the country to unite in their collective struggle for professional and social rights.
Among their demands were health cards, housing plots, accreditation, job security and social security. The protest at Gun Park therefore placed journalists’ pending welfare demands and press freedom concerns before the government.
The participants continued to seek measures for their professional safety and social welfare.