Context: Recently, the government has issued a new policy on accreditation of journalists, drafted by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B).
About Policy for Accreditation

• The new policy lays down guidelines on how PIB accreditation will be granted to eligible journalists.
• It is prepared by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) and issued by the Press Information Bureau.
• Most of the provisions are drawn from Article 19(2) of the Constitution which prescribes the restrictions to free speech. 
• At the moment there are 2,457 PIB-accredited journalists in the country.

Conditions laid

• For the first time, it specifies conditions that can result in the journalist losing accreditation.
• The new policy has ten points that may result in the accreditation being cancelled, including if a journalist is charged with a “serious cognisable offence”.

If a journalist acts in a manner which is prejudicial to the following conditions, his/ her accreditation can be cancelled:

• Sovereignty and integrity of India
• Security of the nation
• Friendly relations with foreign states
• Public order
• Decency or morality or
• Defamation or incitement of an offence
• In relation to Contempt of Court

Accreditation is also liable to be withdrawn/suspended if it is found to have been misused.
Who is eligible for accreditation?
Applications for accreditation are vetted by a Central Press Accreditation Committee headed by the DG, PIB.

• After a journalist applies, a mandatory security check is conducted by the Home Ministry, which includes police verification of the journalist’s residence.

There are multiple categories who can apply
(1) Journalists

• But a journalist needs to have a minimum five years’ professional experience as a full-time working journalist or a cameraperson in a news organisation, or a minimum of 15 years as a freelancer to become eligible.
• Veteran journalists, with over 30 years of experience, and who are older than 65 years of age, too are eligible.
• Accreditation is only available for journalists living in the Delhi NCR region.
• Similar rules apply for foreign news organisations and foreign journalists.

(2) Newspapers

• A newspaper or a periodical needs to have a minimum daily circulation of 10,000, and news agencies must have at least 100 subscribers.

(3) Digital platforms and others

• The policy has introduced a provision that journalists working with digital news platforms are also eligible, provided the website has a minimum of 10 lakh unique visitors per month.

How does accreditation help?

• Professional status: The policy mentions that the accreditation does not “confer any official or special status” on the journalists, but only recognises them as a “professional working journalist”.
• Reporting important offices: In certain events where VVIPs or dignitaries such as the President, the Vice President or the Prime Minister are present, only accredited journalists are allowed to report from the premises.
• Source Identity: Accreditation ensures that a journalist is able to protect the identity of his or her sources.
• Authencity: An accredited journalist does not have to disclose who he or she intends to meet when entering offices of union ministries, as the accreditation card is valid for entry.
• Perks and benefits: Accreditation brings certain benefits for the journalist and his or her family, like being included in the Central Government Health Scheme, and some concessions on railway tickets.

Key concern raise

• Intimidation: This could result, at times, in such powers trying to intimidate journalists or to block information from coming out.
• Alleged defamation: A common tool used by powerful people is filing of defamation cases against journalists and media platforms.
• Prevents constructive criticism: Journalists often report on issues and policy decisions that the government may not like.
• Subjectivity of criteria: The new policy’s provision about acting “in manner which is prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India can be subjective.
• No watchdog: The policy is silent on who will decide if a journalist’s conduct violates any of these conditions.
• Media trials: Any investigative story on sensitive issues could be held to be in violation of any of these provisions.

By: Shubham Tiwari