India: Greeshma Kuthar Removed From Journalistic Role By Employer Organization Without Explanation. CFWIJ Is Extremely Concerned About What Appears To Be Silencing Of The Press.
Location: India, Tamil Nadu
Date: July 1, 2021
Journalist Greeshma Kuthar was removed from her journalistic role at the Firstpost by the management at her employer firm. No reason was given regarding the sudden decision. Greeshma has spent three years at the company helping it in community engagement and broader coverage of national issues. Greeshma tried to get in touch with the management regarding the abrupt decision but did not receive a response regarding the matter.
In a Twitter thread, detailing the incident, Greeshma describes the non-professional attitude displayed by the management of Network 18 group, the parent company of Firstpost with regards to her role in the company. The sudden decision to remove her from her position came after Greeshma had done a significant amount of work, remodelling the department she was employed by. She recounts how she worked to ensure that their work would connect to younger audiences, specially millennials and gen Z at a time when India was experiencing several political crises. Greeshma demanded no additional pay or position in exchange for her work. However, she was blindsided by the sudden decision to expel her from her role in the department. She was abruptly delegated to a non-journalistic position without any consultation or communication.
I was removed from Firstpost a few weeks back and told by the Nw18 management that I'm being moved to a non journalism role. I tried to understand why this was done. I was not offered any coherent explanation. On account of this, I was forced to quit today.
— Greeshma Kuthar (@jeegujja) June 23, 2021
While responding to CFWIJ’s support tweet, Greeshma revealed that she had tried to get in touch with the management but was treated with disrespect. When she attempted to communicate with them regarding this decision, terming their actions bullying and threatening to resign from her post, they simply cleared her off from their systems without ever responding to her complaint.
Thank you @CFWIJ
— Greeshma Kuthar (@jeegujja) June 29, 2021
Not only did @Network18Group remove me from my position without consulting me, they've wiped me off their systems with no process, not even an official response to my email informing that I would rather quit than be bullied into taking up a non journalism job https://t.co/PCZDULPSM8
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the actions of the management at Network 18 group. This is nothing short of workplace harassment of a woman journalist. The work ethic displayed by the management at this time is thoroughly unprofessional and reflects incredibly poorly of those in charge of the company. They have blatantly exploited the work of one of their employees and have later silenced her without any acceptable reason. The Coalition stands in solidarity with Greeshma at this time.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.