Media freedom in the country is in a perilous state at present with journalists facing challenges on various fronts while trying to do their job, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has said. Addressing the closing ceremony of the 58th State conference of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) here on Sunday, he said that a similar situation exists in Kerala, although to a lesser degree.
“India is ranked 142 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index put out by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been named among the ‘Predators of Press Freedom’. He shares deep relationships with big business groups, who have now taken over major media houses. Journalists who don’t work as per the interests of their media owners will not have a secure job. Those journalists who have taken a secular position and are questioning communal elements are facing intimidation and name-calling on social media,” he said.
