Understanding the new Central Media Accreditation Guidelines

• Central Media Accreditation Guidelines-2022 have outlined the conditions for withdrawal of accreditation if a journalist 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 cognisable offence.
• Provisions are drawn from Article 19(2), that prescribes:
• The restrictions to free speech guaranteed to every citizen of the country
• Serve as guidelines for the press and media.

How is this different from the past?

• In the new guidelines, there are 10 provisions under which accreditation to a journalist can be withdrawn.

How are they proposed to be implemented?

• Central Media Accreditation Committee will be created
• Chaired by: Principal DG, Press Information Bureau (PIB).
• 25 members: nominated by the Government
• To interpret the guidelines for withdrawal of accreditation.

Why are these guidelines a matter of concern?

• 2020: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked India 142nd among 180 countries on World Press Freedom Index 2020.
• The ambit of freedom of expression under Article 19 of the Constitution has been generally interpreted as having laid down the template for a free press in the country with subsequent pronouncements of courts ensuring it.
• Any report critical of the Government could now be seen as prejudicial to the interests of the country.
• It has been left to the interpretation and discretion of the Central Media Accreditation Committee to read guidelines and decide what is defamatory while denying accreditation to a journalist.

How do journalists get accredited?

• Who can apply: Journalist with a minimum of five years as a full-time working journalist.
• Accrediation by: PIB
• Process completed after mandatory security check from Ministry of Home Affairs.

Importance of Accreditation

• Helps in access to government offices and to special events and functions organised by the Government of India.
• Some Ministries like Home and Defence and Finance allow access only to accredited journalists.

Attempts in the past to regulate the media

• 2018: PIB, which functions under the I&B Ministry, had proposed a Fake News Guidelines
• According to it, accreditation could be cancelled if the journalist was seen as peddling content that was fake.
• Withdrawn under pressure.
• Recently Government proposed a series of rules under the IT Act to check digital news content.
• State Governments like Kerala and Rajasthan came out with their own versions of proposed rules which were withdrawn under pressure and criticism.
• The most infamous move to control the press was by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi . He proposed Defamation Bill in 1988.
• Under pressure from a unified media and several sections of the public, the Bill was withdrawn.