Yesterday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a press circular in which it stated that the accreditation of journalists who generate ‘fake news’ will be suspended temporarily or terminated permanently. Needless to say, the ministry’s move witnessed severe backlash from the Fourth Estate, opposition parties and freethinkers who described it as an attack on the freedom of press.
Quickly realising the intensifying backlash, PM Narendra Modi today cancelled the controversial order. The PMO’s office said that any concerns regarding ‘fake news’ should be addressed only by the Press Council of India. Following Modi’s press release, I&B Minister Smriti Irani tweeted that she is ready to work with the press community to fight fake news and uphold ethical journalism.
In yesterday’s press release, the ministry had given out a set of guidelines in which it said that a journalist’s accreditation will be suspended for 6 months if he or she peddles fake news once. On the second instance, the journalist will face a 1 year suspension and then permanent suspension on the third violation.
The ministry further said that the ‘fake news’ will be referred to the Press Council of India (PCI) if it pertains to the print media and to the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) if the news pertains to the electronic media.
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