COVID-19: Many States Declare Journalists 'Frontline Workers', to Vaccinate Them on Priority West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Uttarakhand have made promises of vaccination for journalists. Representative image. Photo: PTI Media18 hours ago New Delhi: Amid a rising number of coronavirus cases in the country, chief ministers of various states have decided to give journalists the status of ‘frontline workers’ and accord them priority in the vaccination programme. According to the Geneva-based media rights body, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), India is among the top three countries in the world when it comes to deaths of journalists due to COVID-19.