Like any other field, media, too, is undergoing through the most critical period, thanks to Coronavirus effect.
The media persons are playing a crucial role in the dissemination of information to the people on Coronavirus, steps being taken by the governments to control the spread of the virus, the plight of poor people during this crisis and lack of availability of essential commodities etc.
But when they go back to their homes, they are not sure whether they would have their jobs tomorrow.
The media houses are incurring huge losses due to lockdown period and almost every management is thinking of how to cut down the expenditure.
In case of print media, many managements have cut down the number of pages to bring down the cost in terms of newsprint and ink. Many Telugu papers have wound up their district/region tabloid pullouts and are carrying any important local news in the main pages.
As a result, many of the local correspondents, better known as contributors or stringers, have lost their livelihood. So are the journalists on the desks who used to handle tabloid editions.
There are reports that even national dailies have sacked some of their sports correspondents, as there are no sports events now. A popular national newspaper has announced 30 per cent pay cut for its staff on the pretext of lockdown.
Same is the case with the electronic media. Many television news channels, who had vast network of correspondents across the Telugu states, are now considering cutting down the staff, both on the field and off the field to reduce the overhead expenses.
Reason: there is absolutely no revenue to these channels in the form of advertisements. Some of them used to get little revenue from their YouTube clicks, but even that revenue has now started dwindling.
A channel, which was getting Rs 50 to Rs 60 lakh a month, has not been getting oven Rs 4-5 lakh this month, while its overhead costs continue to remain over Rs 1 crore.
Under these circumstances, one has to see how many of these media houses will survive after the Coronavirus effect subsides.
Except big media houses which have newspapers with large circulation and channels with high viewership will survive.
Because of the grim revenue scenario, one doubts whether there would be any mergers or acquisition of loss-making channels, let alone the launch of new channels!
