Amid rising attacks, Telangana women journalists question their survival in next ten years
Hyderabad: “Will there be women journalists left in Telangana in the next ten years?,” this is one of the heart wrenching questions that Telangana Women journalists asked the state government amidst rising attacks on women journalists in the state on Sunday.
“The alarming rise in (verbal and physical) attacks on women journalists in Telangana in recent times has raised serious concerns about the hostile environment the former are working in, every day. The grim situation also poses a million-dollar question – ‘Will there be any women journalists left in Telangana in the next 10 years?’,” read the statement.
Women journalists say that these concerns stem from the growing mob attacks that women journalists face, both online and offline, from trolls and self-proclaimed supporters and followers of various political parties. These people are increasingly targeting women journalists who cover political news and subjecting them to harassment in both virtual and physical spaces.
Listing one of the latest cases, the statement described that “two female journalists–Akula Sarita and M Vijaya Reddy–went to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s hometown (Kondareddypally village) to report on the loan waiver. However, they were allegedly surrounded by the local Congress party supporters / Chief Minister’s followers. The mob snatched their cameras and mobile phones, threw them down, and terrorized them. They had to seek police security to return safely to their homes in Hyderabad. A case has been registered at the Veldanda Police Station regarding this incident. Soon after, Sarita Avula and Vijaya Reddy were subjected to online trolling from netizens associated with the Congress party, who accused them of working for media organizations affiliated with the BRS party.”
Further in their statement, women journalists pointed out that “Attacking journalists simply because they work for media outlets managed by the BRS party is not only morally incorrect but also a clear violation of the law. It’s welcome to criticize the media for not being objective in its reporting or for publishing lies in the name of journalism but intimidating, humiliating, and resorting to violence on the reporters are inhumane.”
The appeal has also listed the anecdotes of scores of women journalists who had to go through a difficult situation while they were on the field reporting.
What are the demands?
The women journalists have demanded to create a quick support system which can have a rapid response system to address the issues faced by women journalists. Further demanded that Political parties must be held responsible for the harassment originating from fake accounts managed by their supporters. The police department should issue clear warnings to all political parties to this effect.
The appeal was signed by more than 50 women journalists working in various media organizations in the state.
