In a democratic dispensation media has a pivotal role in advancing and protecting democratic norms, freedom of expression which is a bulwark for other liberties and also strengthening the edifice of the state. It is because of this perceived role of the media that it is regarded as fourth pillar of the state. Media has also become an industry in the modern era like other industries employing thousands of journalists and the support staff. It goes without saying that the development and health of any industry is inextricably linked to the working conditions, salaries and perks of its employees. But it is regrettable to note that like in the other industries the employees of media have invariably remained underpaid and made to work under very challenging conditions by the owners of the media houses. This trend necessitated the government to intervene and announce minimum wages for the industrial workers through annual budgets and the wage board awards for the journalists.

The first wage board award for journalists was constituted in 1960 and awarded on December 31, 1960. It was also decided that after every five years minimum wage for the journalists would be decided. According to this decision by now 14 Wage Awards would have been announced but so far only eight awards have been given owing to inordinate delays in their implementation by the owners of the media houses who invariably resisted the government initiatives. It can be judged by the fact that the seventh wage award was announced in 2001 and its implementation remained suspended for ten........

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