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said, “This is to inform that the Press release on Fake news regulation issued yesterday i.e. 02 April 2018 stands withdrawn.”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
March 27,2020

Mangaluru, Mar 27: In the wake of mounting number of coronavirus positive cases in Dakshina Kannada and surrounding areas, the government has decided to fully shut down the coastal district on Saturday, March 28.

Announcing this today, district in charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary urged the people not to step out their homes at any cost for any reason as nothing would be available outside except the deadly coronavirus.

All grocery stores, food outlets and markets also are likely to remain closed. For last few days grocery shops remained open till noon. 

Dakshina Kannada today reported two fresh cases of Covid-19. So far the district witnessed seven positive cases and none of them are fully cured. Shockingly neighboring district of Kasargod today reported 34 new coronavirus positive cases on a single day.

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News Network
April 8,2020

Davanagere, Apr 8: BJP MLA from Honnali constituency, MP Renukacharya, said that the government should not ignore those who attended Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi and are escaping detection, and it is not wrong if the person is shot.

"Anyone who attended Tablighi meet, is not coming out for medical checkups and is escaping detection. The government should not ignore them. Even if he is shot, it is not wrong. Otherwise, the virus will spread throughout the entire country. In China it started with one person," Renukacharya said on Tuesday.

"We are suffering because someone is not coming for check-up. I request them to come voluntarily to the doctors and District Magistrates. Not all minorities are terrorists and not all of them are anti-nationals," he added.

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction for the government to impose a complete ban on all activities of the Tablighi Jamaat with immediate effect.

Over 1,000 coronavirus cases in India are linked to Tablighi Jamaat gathering. Hundreds of people who are related to Tablighi Jamaat have been quarantined.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 18,2020

Mangaluru: As many as 178 passengers arrived in the coastal city from Dubai as the second flight under the Vande Bharat Mission landed at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) at 7.55am on Monday.

Among 178 passengers, there were 99 male, 67 female, 11 children and one infant.

Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh said that all the necessary arrangements had been made to ensure that the passengers were not inconvenienced in any way. 

“All of them have been provided with health kits, sufficient food, sim cards, etc. We have also set up facilities at the airport where they can exchange foreign currency. The emigration process was conducted only after each passenger was subjected to screening by health department personnel at the airport. We will have their throat swabs tested for Covid-19 on Tuesday,” Sindhu said.

Personnel attired in personal protective equipment gear shifted the passengers’ luggage, while buses had been arranged for transporting them to quarantine facilities, Sindhu added.

Probationary IAS officer Rahul Shinde, additional deputy commissioner MJ Roopa, district health officer Dr Ramachandra Bairy and MIA director VV Rao were among those who received the returning Indians along with the DC at the airport.

Public, including friends and relatives of the passengers, were barred entry to the airport.

Rooms in as many as 10 hotels have been reserved to quarantine passengers flying in to Mangaluru from the Gulf. The rooms are priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,400. Meanwhile, those unable to afford rent will be accommodated at government hostels.

 

Mangaluru, May 18: The second repatriation flight to the coastal Karnataka from Dubai landed at Mangaluru International Airport at 7.45 pm. today.Mangaluru: As many as 178 passengers arrived in the coastal city from Dubai as the second flight under the Vande Bharat Mission landed at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) at 7.55am on Monday.

 

Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh said that all the necessary arrangements had been made to ensure that the passengers were not inconvenienced in any way.

 

“All of them have been provided with health kits, sufficient food, sim cards, etc. We have also set up facilities at the airport where they can exchange foreign currency. The emigration process was conducted only after each passenger was subjected to screening by health department personnel at the airport. We will have their throat swabs tested for Covid-19 on Tuesday,” Sindhu said.

 

Personnel attired in personal protective equipment gear shifted the passengers’ luggage, while buses had been arranged for transporting them to quarantine facilities, Sindhu added.

 

Probationary IAS officer Rahul Shinde, additional deputy commissioner MJ Roopa, district health officer Dr Ramachandra Bairy and MIA director VV Rao were among those who received the returning Indians along with the DC at the airport.

 

Public, including friends and relatives of the passengers, were barred entry to the airport.

 

Rooms in as many as 10 hotels have been reserved to quarantine passengers flying in to Mangaluru from the Gulf. The rooms are priced between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,400. Meanwhile, those unable to afford rent will be accommodated at government hostels.

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