The World Association of Press Councils has expressed its concern over the catastrophic effects of COVID -19 pandemic on the media all over the world. It is an irony that like many other warriors against corona, the media has become a victim in itself both as an individual as well as an
institution, for the first time in the history of the world. The concern was expressed by WAPC member countries during their monthly zoom meeting to touch base on the COVID-19 pandemic and the media.

Several journalists have died of the dreaded disease while reporting on the pandemic in different countries. Many have contaminated the disease from the scores of patients since they work in the same environment. Many more are kept under observation facing an uncertain future. But apart from this natural calamity, the economic consequence COVID-19 is just devastating on the media. At institutional level some newspapers, magazines, periodicals, TV channels, online media and other
digital media have stopped publications or operations altogether. But many other media including in big categories and established ones have stopped or downsized their publications or operations from different
places. Some of them have also truncated their pages and contents. All these unprecedented measures are taken by the media houses ostensibly on the ground that their main revenue from advertisements have become less
since the pandemic had equally devastating effect on their revenue which is mainly advertisements both Government and private.

Unfortunately, loss of revenue has a cascading effect on the individual level of scores of journalists belonging to all types of media. Some of them have lost their jobs while many others faced salary cuts. Many other coercive measures like forced leave, leave without pay, and
reduction of working hours have been taken by the management and owners. Pertinent to note that there is no reduction in readership or viewership of print, electronic or other media. People buy newspapers, see TV and scan through the online media. Governments of most countries keep releasing advertisements to the media. In fact, many advertisements in the form of awareness campaigns about the pandemic are released to and
by the media houses routinely every day. Readership, viewership and hits have in fact increased since people are locked down for a prolonged period and movement is restricted.

But it is an irony that the media houses are killing the massagers who are fighting the pandemic like any other health professionals. Several appeals by the journalists themselves and through their associations/unions have fallen into the deaf years of the management, owners and above all Government.

The WAPC, an umbrella organization of Press Councils and similar bodies of different counties of the globe during its series of unique on-line meeting “Media Before and After the Coronavirus Pandemic,” appeals to the media house owners and management to try and minimise harm to the
practitioners such as employment termination and or cutting their pays. It also urges the respective Governments to intervene immediately and
save the media which is the fourth pillar of democracy.

Speaking during zoom conference, Prof (Dr) Sule Aker, President of the WAPC, advised the fellow media persons to remain careful and disseminate authentic news about the dreaded disease. She also urged all Government and Media Houses to keep the interest of the media persons
uppermost in their mind and ensure that media personnel are provided with PPE to facilitate them working whenever necessary. Dr Aker said that it is a universal acknowledgement of the need for a free and unrestricted media She recalled that the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres has already called for greater protection of journalists who are providing the “antidote” to what he has characterized as a pandemic of misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 crisis.

Dr Aker further urges the Government of member countries to provide information on a timely manner to avoid speculations on the news and hence misinformation. The meeting was attended by WAPC members from
Turkish Republic of Northen Cyprus, Nepal, Azerbaijan, Kenya, India, Tanzania and Kosovo.

At the same time WAPC which is recognized by the United Nations also decided to approach the UN and other UN affiliated bodies like UNESCO to provide possible support to the Media practitioners and Industry. WAPC
member countries have agreed to work very closely with the media in their countries and provide support whenever possible.