Alliance for Media Freedom, a collective of journalists have called for the rollback of the ‘arbitrary and illegal actions against news media in Tamil Nadu’. The collective also unanimously decided to send a representation, led by N Ram, the chairman of The Hindu group to meet Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami to express concerns over the state’s recent actions against the media.
Expressing that there was no solidarity among the media houses in the face of illegal actions against the media, N Ram also urged the state government to stop using its cable distribution company, Arasu cable, to censor news channels. He also called out for more journalists to come under the banner of Alliance for Media Freedom to assert their rights.
It was reported that the state government is using Arasu Cable as an instrument to illegally penalise TV broadcasters who cover protests and opinions that are against the government. “This inhibits free flow of information and stifles freedom of expression,” the resolution said.
Referring to the recent cases against the Tamil news channel Puthiya Thalaimurai, N Ravi, the publisher of The Hindu, said that it was the ‘duty of the state to protect the speaker than silence him’. He also said that the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 were ‘vague and against the democratic set-up’.
Advisor to Makkal TV Sowmya Anbumani said that it was time for the media houses that defend freedom of the press to maintain journalistic ethics.
The meeting was attended by Arun Ram, the Resident Editor (Chennai) of Times of India, Florent C Pereira, the General Manager of Kalaignar TV, RC Swaminathan, the General Manager of Sathiyam TV, S Karthigaichelvan, the Managing Editor of Puthiya Thalaimurai, MG Dawood Miakhan, the General Secretary of Quaide Milleth Educational and Social Trust and several other senior journalists. The event was organised by the Madras Union of Journalists, Centre of Mediapersons for Change and Forum for Media Professionals and was held in Quaide Milleth International Academy of Media Studies.