RIUJ head takes a swipe at TV anchors
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 30 May 2012 | JP Staff Reporter
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Around 70 journalists protested outside Geo offices in Islamabad against recent sackings and demanded implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award. RIUJ president Waqar Satti criticized TV anchors for not joining the protest. The RIUJ announced more protests, with the next planned outside News1 TV in Islamabad.Summary
ISLAMABAD: About 70 journalists gathered in front of Geo offices in Islamabad Tuesday to protest the recent sackings by the television channel and to press media houses to implement the 7th Wage Board Award. The protest was organized by the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and its president Waqar Satti took a swipe at television anchors who opted to stay away.
Satti said when the anchors ran into problems in the past the RIUJ took to the streets to support them. “In this light it is a pity they are not standing by us now.” Pervez Shaukat, President of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) did not show up at the protest while Bilal Dar, Secretary General of RIUJ, made only a brief late appearance. Many of those sacked were not to be seen.
Satti told JournalismPakistan.com Wednesday that GeoTV was happily paying film actor Shan, who now hosts the program Geo Shan Say, Rs4 million a month.
“I am sure the monthly salaries of staff that Geo has sacked would not be more than Rs 500,000.” Geo recently laid off several staff members, many of whom had served the organization for years. A number of other television channels and newspapers have also axed hundreds of employees.
The RIUJ has announced a series of protests that will be held in front of different media organizations. The next stop will be the offices of News1 TV in Islamabad Friday.
KEY POINTS:
- About 70 journalists protested outside Geo offices in Islamabad over layoffs and wage board implementation.
- RIUJ president Waqar Satti criticized TV anchors for staying away from the protest.
- PFUJ president Pervez Shaukat did not attend, while RIUJ secretary general Bilal Dar appeared briefly.
- Satti alleged Geo pays actor Shan Rs4 million monthly, exceeding the combined salaries of sacked staff.
- RIUJ announced a series of protests, with the next planned at News1 TV offices in Islamabad on Friday.
