CPJ advises journos to be cautious on poll duty

Hyderabad: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an NGO from the US that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists, has compiled a safety kit for journalists covering the upcoming general elections in India.

It contains information for editors, reporters and photojournalists on how to prepare for the election, and how to mitigate any digital, physical and psychological risk.

As the country celebrated over 70 years of democracy, journalists are under pressure from attacks, harassment, cyberbullying, and government restrictions, according to the CPJ.

According to the report, at least five journalists were killed in relation to their work in India in 2018, including four who were murdered.

The CPJ held a press meet here on Tuesday in which Indian correspondent Kunal Majumder stressed on issues like digital safety (online harassment and trolling, securing and storing materials, identifying bots), physical safety (reporting safely in a hostile community, reporting safely on rallies and protests), psychological safety (managing trauma and dealing with trauma-related stress) etc.