From newsroom to nowhere: Human cost of contract jobs in journalism

The death of Rajesh Awasthi, a long-serving employee of Dainik Jagran, has left the journalistic fraternity shaken. His suicide, reportedly by consuming sulphas tablets, was not just an isolated tragedy but a reflection of the silent struggles faced by countless journalists across India.  

For years, Awasthi had dedicated himself to the newsroom. Colleagues remember him as hardworking and committed, someone who carried the weight of deadlines and the responsibility of truth with quiet resilience. But behind the professional façade lay a man battling illness, depression, and the crushing reality of financial insecurity after being dismissed from his job.  

His story is painfully familiar. Many journalists, despite decades of service, earn wages too low to sustain families with dignity. Retrenchment or retirement often pushes them into poverty, with little or no savings to fall back on. Without pensions, they become dependent on their children, stripped of independence in their later years.  

The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) has pointed out how recent changes in labour laws have worsened the situation. Under the Working Journalists Act, retrenched employees were entitled to three months’ wages. The new Labour Codes have slashed this to just one month’s compensation. The rise of contract-based employment has further eroded job security, leaving journalists vulnerable to sudden unemployment.  

Awasthi’s death is not just about one man’s despair. It is about a profession where insecurity has become the norm, where the absence of social security and healthcare drives people to desperate measures. His passing is a reminder that behind every byline is a human being, often struggling to survive in a system that undervalues their work.  

DUJ has demanded proper compensation for Awasthi’s family and urged governments to provide pensions and social security for journalists. More importantly, it has called upon journalists themselves to unite — to fight for better wages, an end to exploitative contracts, and dignity in retirement.  

Rajesh Awasthi’s story is a human tragedy, but it is also a call to action. His death should not fade into silence; it must spark a conversation about the urgent need for reform in the profession he served so faithfully.