Government ad bills pending, Manipur media outfits threaten blackout from Dec 16

The print and electronic media in Manipur will cease work indefinitely from December 16 if pending government advertising bills are not cleared by December 15, the Hindu reported.

Representatives of the Editors Guild Manipur, the Manipur Hill Journalists Union and the All Manipur Working Journalists Union met on December 11 to discuss the issue. Manipur chief minister N Biren reportedly had a telephone conversation with EGM president Khogendra Khomdram and AMWJU president Wangkhemcha Shaymjai and assured that information minister T Bishwajit will resolve the problem.

In November, the Hindu had reported that Khomdram and MHJU president Peter Adani had submitted a memorandum to Bishwajit on November 27, saying “bill amounts running into several lakhs of rupees each to print and electronic media remain unpaid for a long time”.

Taking cognizance of Covid, the memorandum had stated, “It is a fact that the Covid-19 has taken its toll on the government and other establishments, including the media industry. But the media is a tool in fighting the pandemic.” In the same meeting, the group had given an ultimatum that if the payments were not made by December 10 then the media would black out all news related to the government except those linked to law and order, from December 11.