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said, “This is to inform that the Press release on Fake news regulation issued yesterday i.e. 02 April 2018 stands withdrawn.”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’
Bengaluru, Feb 14: After the swearing-in of ten former JDS and Congress MLAs, political boundaries seem to have become more fluid, with little clarity on who is on whose side. When Honnali BJP MLA Renukacharya visited senior Congressman DK Shivakumar at the latter’s residence, many eyebrows were raised over the reason behind the meeting. There was speculation over why Renukacharya would be meeting a man who is, in all likelihood, slated to be the next KPCC president.
Comments
Soon Feku may introduce separate syllabus for that. How can be a successful believable fake journalist
Feku need this. Then only he can win this time
LOL.. Modi and Irani are the most benefited people of this
Hahaha. The development came days after Karnataka police arrested a fake news expert in Bengaluru.
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.
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