27 employees of a TV channel contract COVID-19

Journalists and reporters continue to be affected by COVID-19.  On Tuesday, as many as 27 staff members of a Chennai-based Tamil-language news channel have contracted coronavirus.  98 members of the channel had tested themselves and 27 of them have been confirmed as positive.  

Reportedly, a sub-editor working for the TV channel was the carrier.  This person had contracted the virus from his father, a cop in Chennai.  

At present, only three members are working to keep the channel on air.  

Worse situation in Mumbai media:

The situation is unenviable in the Mumbai media industry.  On Monday, at least 53 journalists tested positive for COVID-19.  Among those who tested positive include reporters, cameramen and photojournalists.  In a blow to a regional TV channel, its entire contingent of journalists who have been reporting from the ground has contracted coronavirus.  

The government has instructed media personnel to strictly follow all protocols and procedures while venturing out for reporting purposes.

“Media owners don’t take proper care of journalists. Safety kits are not provided. Most journalists ignore safety instructions too,” journalist Nikhil Wagle laments.