Contrary to perceptions, the condition of media persons is far from rosy, reveals a recent survey by Media Studies Group (MSG). Faced with a situation where even trained journalists are unable to afford the minimum requirements of daily life, an alarming number of them are leaving the profession for better livelihood options. Even today, there are many who do not get minimum wages as per their qualifications and are not encouraged for their good work, rendering them dissatisfied with their jobs and job profiles.
These disturbing facts have come to light through a survey of journalists who passed out from media training institute Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) during the past fifteen years (1985-2010). Devashish Prasoon and Vijay Pratap of Delhi based media think-tank MSG conducted online interviews of these journalists to arrive at the results.
The survey reveals a stunning fact that about one third of the journalists interviewed (33.63 per cent) was paid as low as Rs. 5000 as their first salaries. Around 70 per cent of them received below Rs. 10,000 as their initial salary. Some of the respondents said that they got only Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,000 as their first salary – less than the minimum prescribed wages. Neither did they get any identity card nor were they provided with any salary slip.
When asked about the current salary status, 36.79 per cent confessed that they were getting between
