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said, “This is to inform that the Press release on Fake news regulation issued yesterday i.e. 02 April 2018 stands withdrawn.”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

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News Network
June 11,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 11: Within hours after claiming that it has decided to prohibit schools from schools from conducting online classes till Class 7, the Karnataka government has taken a U-turn and said that currently than ban is only till Class 5.

“Karnataka Govt has decided to stop all online classes for LKG, UKG & classes up to 5th std. To extend this up to 7th std is only a suggestion from few cabinet ministers as expressed in an informal discussion and NOT a decision,” tweeted Prime and Secondary Minister Suresh Kumar.

Law Minister J C Madhuswamy earlier today had stated that the decision to ban online classes till 7th standard was taken by the government.  "All of us were of the opinion that there were challenges faced by students studying in rural areas. Hence, we urged the government to extend the ban on online classes till 7 standard," he said

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News Network
February 18,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 18:  A fan of Kannada film star Darshan smashed the face of a police constable with a boulder when the latter asked him to come in the queue to a party to celebrate the star’s birthday.

The incident happened past midnight on February 15 near the residence of the film star where his birthday was being celebrated.

The injured police constable has been identified as Devaraj, attached to the Jnana Bharathi police station.

The film star’s managers had not made arrangements to handle a huge crowd that gathered near his residence and police had a tough time controlling the crowd.

Constable Devaraj was deputed to duty at the party and tried to get the crowd to fall in line.

As the police carried out a mild lathi-charge to control the crowd, a fan of Darshan came up with a boulder in his hand and smashed the face of the constable Devaraj from very close distance. The constable collapsed on the spot and the attacker ran away.

The impact was such that Devaraj’s nose was fractured and he sustained an eye injury. He was admitted to a private hospital and his condition is said to be serious.

The R R Nagar police have registered a case under IPC sections 353 and 352. The cops have launched a hunt for the accused and they are obtaining CCTV footage from the spot.

A complaint is being registered against the organisers of the event and an investigation is on. Several neighbours of Darshan have also complained to the police about the chaos on February 15.

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coastaldigest.com news network
February 7,2020

Bantwal, Feb 7: A 31-year-old man has been arrested on charge of sexual assault on a minor boy at Kanyana under the limits of Vittla police station in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada.

The police have identified accused as Suresh Prabhu, a resident of Kanyana village. He is said to be an activist of a saffron outfit.

The alleged sexual assault took place on February 1, when the victim, a schoolboy, was on his way home from the school. 

According to police, Prabhu called the boy saying he wanted to tell a secret. He then took him to the school toilet and sexually assaulted him there. 

After returning home, the boy narrated the incident to his mother, who approached the jurisdictional Vittla police station and lodged a complaint. 

After taking the minor boy’s statement, the police registered a case under section 341, 377, 506 IPC and POCSO Act against Prabhu. He was arrested on February 5.

 

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