The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) on Sunday appealed to those who are not journalists to immediately stop wearing vests that display the ‘PRESS’ logo and putting up ‘PRESS’ stickers on their vehicles.
Journalists are facing many challenges and going through various disadvantages while trying to discharge their duties and disseminate crucial information to the public amid the prevailing turmoil in the state, stated a joint release.
Meanwhile, the increase in numbers of unregistered media practitioners has confused the public as well as put hindrances to the real journalists who are sincerely carrying out their duties, it stated.
YouTubers, bloggers and vloggers arriving at a particular site and giving coverage as per their whims has become a familiar experience to all, it mentioned.
“The AMWJU and EGM have no right to prohibit them from entering conflict zones and spots where an incident has taken place. However, their wearing vests with ‘PRESS’ logos will not be accepted. We have also learnt that they are putting up ‘PRESS’ stickers on their vehicles at their own discretion and freely moving around,” it further stated.
Therefore, those who are not in the media profession are appealed not to use vests and stickers with the said logos, it stated.
The police and law enforcing agencies are urged not to show leniency to anyone using these vests and stickers, but rather initiate measures to identify them, it added.
