Good news for ‘fake news’ journalists: Ministry withdraws guidelines after Modi’s intervention

coastaldigest.com web desk
April 3, 2018

New Delhi, Apr 3: Within a day after it warned that journalists may lose their accreditation permanently if they spread fake news, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting headed by Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday took a U-turn and withdrew iits fresh guidelines. 

The warning

The Ministry on Monday, April 2, in a press release had warned that accreditation of a journalist (both television and print) can be cancelled/annulled if the news reported by them is found to be “fake”.

“Noticing the increasing instances of fake news in various mediums, including print and electronic media, the government has amended the guidelines for accreditation of journalists,” a press note from the Ministry said.

On receiving complaints of “fake news”, it will be referred to the Press Council of India (PCI) if it pertains to print media and to the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) if it relates to electronic media. Both the agencies will have to dispose of each complaint within 15 days.

During the period of probe, the journalist's accreditation will be suspended. In case of any confirmation of publication or telecast of fake news, the accreditation of the journalist shall be suspended for a period of six months in the first violation and for one year in the case of second violation. In the event of a third violation, it would be cancelled permanently, the Ministry warned.

PM Modi’s intervention

However, following the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Tuesday withdrew its press release which stated that journalists who “created” or “propagated” fake news would have lost their accreditation with the government. 

In a “clarification” issued on Tuesday, the ministry said, “This is to inform that the Press release on Fake news regulation issued yesterday i.e. 02 April 2018 stands withdrawn.”

Following the withdrawal of the press release, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani tweeted that the PIB accreditation guidelines asking Press Council of India and News Broadcasters Association to define and act against ‘fake news’ have generated debate. 

“Several journalists and organisations have reached out giving positive suggestions regarding the same,” she said. Irani said the I&B Ministry was “more than happy to engage with journalist bodies or organisations wanting to give suggestions so that together we can fight the menace of ‘fake news’ and uphold ethical journalism”. The minister said “interested journalists and/or organisations” were free to meet her at the ministry. 

Sources said the Prime Minister had “directed that the press release regarding fake news be withdrawn and the matter should only be addressed in Press Council of India”.

Also Read: Editor arrested for producing provocative fake news; BJP calls him a ‘nationalist’

Comments

Kumar
 - 
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2018

Soon Feku may introduce separate syllabus for that. How can be a successful believable fake journalist

Suresh Kalladka
 - 
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2018

Feku need this. Then only he can win this time

Ganesh
 - 
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2018

LOL.. Modi and Irani are the most benefited people of this

Vikranth
 - 
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2018

Hahaha. The development came days after Karnataka police arrested a fake news expert in Bengaluru. 

Abu Muhammad
 - 
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2018

A party and a generation of hate mongers that solely thrives on and lives on Fake news, paid news, doctored news & yellow journalism for its existence, can not initiate any action or issue guidelines on any Media (print or visual). Rather encourage more fake news to suit its ideology and suppress Truth.

Sonaxi
 - 
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2018

If journalists started losing accreditation for fake news then at least 80% of journalists in India will lose accreditation. Media is full of fake news.

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 28,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 28: Ayurveda company, TotalAyurvedaCare.com recently launched a novel telemedicine platform that blends traditional Ayurvedic practices with modern technology, giving patients face-to-face interactions with Ayurvedic doctors.

Through the website, patients can book an appointment with a doctor and receive a consultation. Following this consultation, the doctor will prescribe Ayurvedic medicines and provide nutritional advice.

"COVID-19 has brought many unexpected changes to our lives, especially in the healthcare sectors where patients are now asked not to visit hospitals or doctors clinics unless it is a dire emergency. While social distancing and hand washing are some of the keys to containing the spread of the virus, we realized that boosting one's immunity plays a very vital role in keeping healthy. Our Telemedicine portal is ideal as patients can have access to Ayurvedic doctors at the comfort of their homes while minimizing risk to both patient and doctor", said Ed Lateef, Founder and CEO of TotalAyurvedaCare.com.

"The holistic care and treatment is completely personalized for every individual. With highly qualified and experienced doctors, we are on a mission to make the global community a healthy and happy place with Ayurveda. The online platform of TotalAyurvedaCare.com is for everyone to transform their lives. Ayurveda is the science of life and longevity and teaches us about the power of nature, its cycles, and its elements. We understand that Ayurveda is aimed at not only treating the condition but also helps to maintain the balance of soul and mind", he added.

TotalAyurvedaCare's objective is to increase accessibility of Ayurvedic treatments, with the streamlined website allowing patients to register for online consultation easily.

During the registration process, the patient will have to select their condition, doctor of choice and schedule the appointment. Payments occur online through a secured payment gateway.

Currently, the platform supports payment methods including netbanking, debit card, credit card, and PayTM. The platform also allows patients to review their doctors.

TotalAyurvedaCare.com is a division of Total Herbal Care, a company with strategic interests in herbal brands. Founded by Ed Lateef in 2001, for the retail and distribution of Ayurvedic products in the US, it also began operations in Europe in 2003 and then was merged with The Himalaya Drug Company LTD Europe (SIA The Himalaya Drug Company), which was co-founded by Ed Lateef.

As a part of their launch, TotalAyurvedaCare.com is offering free appointments of 30 minutes each for the first 200 participants. The online Ayurvedic Doctor consultation from Total Ayurveda Care is suitable for all the age groups including children.

The highly qualified and experienced Ayurvedic physicians offer personalized consultation for multiple health issues like diabetes, obesity, skin conditions, hair issues, hypertension, stress, anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, etc.

Total Ayurveda Care also offers specialized nutritional consulting, which is based on your current state of health, dietary habits and health issues.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 25,2020

Mangaluru, Apr 25: The coastal district of Dakshina Kannada today reported another covid-19 case. With this the total number of coronavirus positive case in the district rose to 18 including two deaths. 

The health and family welfare department in its bulletin today announced that a 33-year-old woman from Bantwal tested positive for coronavirus. She is undergoing treatment at Wenlock Hospital which is now converted into covid-19 hospital. 

She is the daughter of 67-year-old woman from Bantwal who was tested positive for the deadly disease last week. Both are the neighbours of the two women from Bantwal who died of covid-19 recently.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
April 19,2020

French Nobel prize winning scientist Luc Montagnier has sparked a fresh controversy by claiming that the SARS-CoV-2 virus came from a lab, and is the result of an attempt to manufacture a vaccine against the AIDS virus.

In an interview given to French CNews channel and during a podcast by Pourquoi Docteur, professor Montagnier who co-discovered HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) claimed the presence of elements of HIV in the genome of the coronavirus and even elements of the "germ of malaria" are highly suspect, according to a report in Asia Times.

"The Wuhan city laboratory has specialized in these coronaviruses since the early 2000s. They have expertise in this area," he was quoted as saying.

The theory that Covid-19 virus originated in the lab is making rounds for quite some time.

US President Donald Trump last week acknowledged Fox News report that the novel coronavirus may have been accidentally leaked by an intern working at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.

The Fox News, in an exclusive report, based on unnamed sources has claimed that though the virus is a naturally occurring strain among bats and not a bioweapon, but it was being studied in Wuhan laboratory.

The initial transmission of the virus was bat-to-human, the news channel said, adding that the "patient zero" worked at the laboratory. The lab employee was accidentally infected before spreading the disease among the common people outside the lab in Wuhan city.

Professor Montagnier was awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the identification of AIDS virus, with his colleague professor Franeoise Barre-Sinoussi.

His fresh claim on coronavirus, however, received criticism from scientists, including his colleagues.

"Just in case you don't know. Dr Montagnier has been rolling downhill incredibly fast in the last few years. From baselessly defending homeopathy to becoming an antivaxxer. Whatever he says, just don't believe him," tweeted Juan Carlos Gabaldon.

As per a recent Washington Post, two years ago, the US embassy officials in China raised concerns about the insufficient biosafety at the Chinese government's Wuhan Institute of Virology where deadly viruses and infectious diseases are studied.

Though the institute, located quite close to the Wuhan wet market, is China's first biosafety level IV lab, the US state department had warned in 2018 about "serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate this high-containment laboratory".

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.