MUMBAI: In an attempt to raise awareness among the general public regarding the usage of face masks to combat the spread of Covid2019, Asianet News anchors have been using face masks while on air over the past few days. The move by Asianet is now receiving positive responses from all corners, as this is for the first time in Indian television that all the news anchors in a channel are appearing on screen with their masks on. 

"The primary aim of this move is to create awareness among the general public. We have been discussing for a long time that all reporters and news anchors should wear masks, as it will give a positive message to the public. Moreover, we are also giving masks to guests who are attending the news shows without a face mask. This message has to go deep down, and that was the intention behind this mask-wearing campaign," said Asianet News editor-in-chief MG Radhakrishnan. 

Following Asianet’s lead, a few other Malayalam news channels are also planning to make their news hosts wear masks when they go live. 

"I am very happy about the fact that a message has been conveyed to people regarding the vitality of wearing masks. Moreover, I feel glad that Mathrubhumi News has also followed our path after two days since our news anchors started wearing masks," added Radhakrishnan. 

Talking about the challenges of wearing face masks while news reading, the media veteran said, "We pretty much know that news reading is all about communicating with the general public. Some people told me that communication is not effective when news anchors are wearing masks. However, we have a bigger message to convey, especially at this time of pandemic, and I believe we have succeeded in our attempt.'' 

Radhakrishnan also underscored the necessity of giving journalists the status of frontline workers who should get priority in the vaccination rollout program. 

"The government should do something to classify journalists as frontline workers, as media people have been working from the front since the day of the pandemic outbreak. Media personnel are getting infected by Covid, and it is very much necessary to classify the entire community as frontline workers. The government should consider us as frontline warriors, and should give vaccination," he concluded.