Satish Nandgaonkar death: Mumbai Press Club urges Editors Guild to investigate the matter
In a letter addressed to Anant Nath, President, the Editors Guild of India, the Mumbai Press Club said that it conducted a preliminary inquiry into the incident
The death of senior journalist Satish Nandgaonkar last month led to murmurs about toxic work culture and the harassment of the senior journo was made to face at his workplace.
According to multiple accounts, Satish Nandgaonkar's death was believed to have been precipitated by the events that unfolded during an editorial meeting chaired by the executive editor of the Mumbai edition of the publication where the senior journalist worked.
In a letter addressed to Anant Nath, President – Editors Guild of India, the Mumbai Press Club said that it conducted a preliminary inquiry into the incident after speaking to scores of Nandgaonkar's immediate colleagues, friends, and current and past employees at the organisation.
As per the club's investigation, Nandgaonkar was subjected to intense humiliation over a delayed story. During the meeting, epithets like "brainless" and other demeaning remarks were thrown at the senior journalist by the editor.
Colleagues also spoke about how the journalist supported stringers and retainers whose stories didn't make it to the print edition. "Nandgaonkar, to ensure they received some remuneration, had negotiated an understanding that he would upload these stories on the website, so there is some flow of money to the stringers. However, a few days before he passed away, his rights to upload stories were taken away and reassigned," read the letter.
A few days before he died, Nandgaonkar's right to upload stories on the organisation's website was also taken away.
The investigation also comprised multiple accounts of other reporters who also experienced similar harassment under the said editor. The Press Club also pointed out that the toxic work culture percolated down to other section heads who also adopted similar tactics of yelling at reporters.
The club also said that apart from tacitly supporting the abusive work culture, the organisation is also implementing a "whitewashing" attempt to absolve the errant editor.
"It is, therefore, necessary for the Editors Guild of India to intervene and investigate the matter. The Mumbai Press Club will provide the necessary assistance for the probe," said the letter in conclusion.
