Journalists on the field face the thread of pandemic

2020-04-05 17:36:36


	İSTANBUL- Journalists, chasing the news on the field, are among the professions who are subjected to the thread of the coronavirus pandemic, says the TGS Chairman Gökhan Durmuş as they are informed of at least a media worker to be infected every day.

	As the journalists try to chase and report the news and they are under the risk of pandemic as well, Gökhan Durmuş, the Chairman of Journalists Union of Turkey spoke to our agency and said that measures are not taken adequately for the working journalists.

	 

	MEASURES ARE NOT ADEQUATE

	 

	Stating that some media institiutions continue home-office after the pandemic, Durmuş said, "The numbers working in the office are reduced. Our unions has raised warnings and concerns on this issue numerous times to provide this conditions. However we still do not think that adequate measures are taken. We are informed about an infected media worker almost every day".

	 

	As the CNN Türk, working under Demirören Group, make their reporters and cameramen work inside the containers outside the office building, this created a scandal. Durmuş reminded that after the scandal the TV applied a shift system with 14 days of free days for the reporters and this should be the system other TVs adopt.

	 

	'IF WE GOT SICK, WE CAN NOT REACH THE NEWS'

	 

	Stating that the primal purpose of the journalists are to ensure that they reach their news to the public, Durmuş said, "Our colleagues should not forget that if we got sick, we can not reach the news. Therefore, we should be first considering our personal health. For that, we should be taking our own measures for personal protection, of course, but on the other hand we should demand the necessary measures from our employers. If they do not satisfy our right to work in a healthy environement, then it should also be an option for us to use our right not to work".

	 

	'AFTER THE PANDEMIC OUR WORK LOAD HAS INCREASED'

	 

	A media worker in NTV channel, who would like to remain anonymous, told their work load has increased after the pandemic and the advertisements on the channel has increased so much so that their night shift, which had normally ended at 1 am, has now extended to 2 am. 

	 

	NTV worker also shared the information that two workers in the channel have been tested positive and added: "These two workers have been sent home. However, their colleagues, who worked together with them, have not been tested".

	 

	MA / Erdoğan Alayumat