Journalists Could Lose Accreditation for Spreading ‘Fake News’
If a scribe is found generating or propagating fake news, their accreditation could be cancelled.
The government on Monday, 2 April said the accreditation of a journalist could be permanently cancelled if the scribe is found generating or propagating fake news, as it came out with stringent measures to contain the menace.
As per the amended guidelines for the accreditation of journalists, if the publication or telecast of fake news is confirmed, the accreditation of that journalist would be suspended for a period of six months in the first violation and for one year in case of a second violation.
In case of a third violation, his or her accreditation would be cancelled permanently, the information and broadcasting ministry said in a release.
It said any complaint of instances of fake news would 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 the electronic media, for determination of the news item being fake or not.
This determination is expected to be completed within 15 days by these agencies, the ministry said.
Once the complaint is registered for determination of fake news, the accreditation of the journalist, whoever “created and/or propagated” the fake news, will be suspended till the determination regarding the fake news is made, the ministry said.
The Accreditation Committee of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), which consists of representatives of both the PCI and the NBA, would be reached out for validating any accreditation request of any news media agency, it said.
While examining the requests seeking accreditation, the regulatory agencies would check whether the ‘Norms of Journalistic Conduct' and ‘Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards', prescribed by the PCI and NBA respectively, are adhered to by the journalists as part of their functioning, the ministry said.
It would be obligatory for journalists to abide by these guidelines, it emphasised.
Journalists Raise Concerns
As the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has taken a step to stop fake news from spreading, senior journalists raised concern about why the order is applicable to “accredited” journalists only.
Another senior journalist, Sreenivasan Jain, raised questions on the claim of self-regulation.
Opposition Too Has a Few Questions
Senior Leader of the Indian national Congress, Ahmad Patel “appreciated” the move but has raised some pertinent questions.
Reiterating her stand on the committee of editors, journalists and representatives of PCI & NBA, Smriti Irani clarified that the PCI and NBA will look into matters of fake news.
She reiterated that the determining bodies PCI and NBA are not controlled/operated by Government of India.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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