NB BUREAU
The Central government on Monday released the Central Media Accreditation Guidelines 2022, under which a journalist will lose accreditation if he acts in a manner prejudicial to the country’s security, sovereignty and integrity, friendly relations with foreign States, public order or is charged with a serious cognizable offence.
The new guidelines have included the digital news publishers for the accreditation, however no accreditation will be granted to freelance journalists working for foreign news media organisations.
“The digital news publishers applying for accreditation should have furnished requisite information to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under Rule 18 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code), Rules, 2021, and have not violated the rules,” read the guidelines.
News Aggregators will not be considered for the accreditation.
The guidelines also bar journalists from using the words “Accredited to the government of India” on public/social media profile, visiting cards, letter heads or on any other form or any published work.
Among the other circumstances under which the accreditation can be withdrawn/suspended are actions prejudicial to decency, or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.
(With inputs from agencies)
