Most mainline newspapers send their journalists frequently for

outstation work by air. Because they are big, they have the resources
to spend for the air travel of the staff. But this is not the case
with the small and some regional media organizations.They struggle to
finance their journalists travel even in the cases where the
assignments are urgent and important.
The start ups in media sector including digital media also face
financial constraints and are hard pressed to meet the travel cost
of their journalists.

I have spoken to Hon Secretary Press Club, Mumbai Mr Gurbir Singh

about this problem. A suggestion was put forward to evolve a scheme
by which Jet Airways can be of some help to small news papers and
emerging media start ups.
If Jet Airways can provide certain no of free tickets in a month for
journalists of such organisations in a limited and economically
viable way, it will be a great image booster to the company.
Press Club will identify these organisations and can act as a nodal
agency between the airline and such media organisations.
The facility should be made available only to journalists who have
to travel for work.
The benefit- It will be a good image booster to the company.
Such an arrangement would enable Jet Airways to identify itself as an
entity that supports journalism and freedom of expression. It can also
publicise this identity wherever/whenever it matters.
Press Club may award this facility, exclusively to Jet Airways, at
least for one year.
If the company can decide how many such free tickets can be made
available in a month, the Club can start initiating a dialogue with
Jet Airways on setting up the scheme.
Mumbai Press Club is a prestigious organisation and it has struck
similar deals with Maharashtra Government for providing housing for
journalists, New India Assurance for providing insurance facilities and Seven
Hills hospitals for medical facilities.
The Press Club Mumbai has also instituted Red Ink Awards the recipients of
which include Arnav Goswami and Prannoy Roy.

M Padmakshan
Mob no 982 000 2184.