- Minister Ponguleti should take the initiative for this
- JAC formed for the implementation of salaries, rights, and welfare schemes
- Union special focus on desk journalists’ problems
- Journalists must gain mastery over AI according to the times
- Working Journalists of India State President Rana Pratap
Khammam: Working Journalists of India State President Rana Pratap has requested the Telangana government to organize a round table meeting in Hyderabad with all journalist associations to discuss and resolve journalists’ issues. He appealed to State Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy to take special initiative in this regard. He warned that if the state government fails to immediately resolve the issues of journalists and implement necessary welfare schemes for them, it will have to face the wrath of journalists. On Wednesday, a meeting of the union key leaders of Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, and Mahabubabad districts was held at the TTDC building in Khammam under the chairmanship of WJI Khammam District Convenor Gantela Anand. Rana Pratap attended this meeting as the chief guest and spoke.
He stated that in the coming days, a JAC will be formed with all journalist associations to fight for journalists’ issues. This will not be limited to the state alone, he said, adding that various journalist associations from across the country will be brought onto a single platform to conduct united struggles. He stated that under the auspices of WJI, continuous struggles will also be waged for the statutory realization of salaries, welfare schemes, accreditations, health cards, house sites, and rights that journalists rightfully deserve. He expressed anguish that thousands of journalists working in this field are facing severe hardships due to a lack of minimum wages and job security. He made it clear that it is deplorable for media managements to make journalists do bonded labor without even paying minimum wages, and affirmed that they will wage an uncompromising fight against managements for the rightful wages and other facilities due to journalists.
He specifically mentioned that their association will also focus on the problems of desk journalists. He stated that the association will strive to effectively implement the welfare schemes that ought to be implemented for journalists by the government. Pointing out that Working Journalists of India is working with the goal of journalists’ financial self-reliance, he stated that it is building movements across the country. Rana Pratap warned that rapid changes are taking place in journalism currently, and if journalists fail to grasp modern technology, there is a danger of them falling behind. He specifically advised every journalist to gain awareness of Artificial Intelligence. On this occasion, he explained the methods of generating news with the help of AI and the techniques of utilizing technology in news writing.
The association must be further expanded: N.S. Rao
WJI State Secretary Nara Subrahmanyeswara Rao (N.S. Rao), speaking, said that there is a need to take the union further forward in the next one or two months. He requested every member to strive for this and increase membership registrations. He also gave a call to constantly wage struggles to resolve local journalists’ issues. He suggested that the association becomes strengthened only through struggles, and an action plan should be formulated in every district in that direction. Subsequently, digital identity cards were handed over to WJI members, and senior journalists were felicitated. Mahabubabad WJI District Convenor H. Ramakrishna Reddy, TJA Khammam District Honorary President Mani Kumar, WJI Khammam District Co-convenors M.A. Ansar Pasha, N. Ramakrishna, Bhadradri Kothagudem District Co-convenor Kole Damodar, Khammam Assembly Constituency In-charge K. Kalyan Chakravarthi, and various district leaders Jabishetty Kutumba Rao, Gogula Narayana Rao, Kattekola China Narasayya, Modepalli Kiran, Enigandla Srinivas, Nalla Jagan Reddy, Johnny, Verpula Sagar, Ponakanti Upender, Boddupalli Ravinder, Pasupuleti Upender, Vulloji Harish, Srinivasa Chari and others participated in this meeting.
Anand Gantela is a senior journalist with 30 years of experience across print, TV, and digital media. Currently serving as the Editor of Ink Post, his career spans key reporting and editorial roles at Prajasakti, Andhra Bhoomi, Maa TV, Mudra and Prime Post. He writes on regional news, current affairs, and socio-political developments.
