Govt crackdown on fake news: Erring journalists to lose accreditation

In a major move to check the increasing instances of fake news in various mediums, including print and electronic media, the Government has amended the Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists. 

Now, on receiving any complaints of such instances of fake news, the same would get 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, for determination of the news item being fake or not. These agencies are required to decide within 15 days whether a news item is fake or not. 

Once the complaint is registered for determination of fake news, the journalist whoever created or propagated the fake news will, if accredited, have the accreditation suspended till such time the determination regarding the fake news is made by the PCI or NBA. 

The new guidelines stated, “While examining the requests seeking accreditation, the regulatory agencies will examine 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. It would be obligatory for journalists to abide by these guidelines.” 

The Accreditation Committee of the PIB, which consists of representative of both PCI and NBA, shall be invariably be reached out to for validating any accreditation request of any news media agency. 

“While any confirmation of publication or telecast of fake news having been confirmed by any of these agencies, the accreditation shall be suspended for a period of 6 months in the first violation and for one year in the case of second violation and in the event of third violation, it would be cancelled permanently,” the guidelines added.

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