Information and Broadcasting Ministry has set up a 10-member committee to recommend the formation of appropriate policy for establishing a regulatory framework for online media and news portals.
Constitutes of Committee
The 10-member committee includes secretaries of the ministries of Home, and Electronics and Information Technology, and the departments of Legal Affairs, and Industrial Policy and Promotion along with the representatives from the Press Council of India, News Broadcasters Association and the Indian Broadcasters Federation.
Responsibilities
- The committee will recommend a suitable and strict policy for online media/ news portals and online content platforms.
- It will also analyse the international scenario on the existing regulatory mechanism with a view to incorporate the best practices.
- The Terms of the reference (ToR) of the committee include delineation of the sphere of online information dissemination which needs to be brought under regulation, on the lines applicable to the print and electronic media.
Background
- On April 2, the ministry announced norms to contain fake news which said that if publication or telecast of fake news was confirmed, accreditation of the journalist would be suspended for six months in case of first violation and for one year in case of a second violation.
- In case of a third violation, his or her accreditation would be cancelled permanently. However, the guidelines were withdrawn by the ministry on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after strong criticism.
- The content on private television channels is regulated by the Programme and Advertisement Codes, while the Press Council of India (PCI) has its norms to regulate the print media but there were no norms or guidelines to regulate the online media websites and news portals.. Therefore, it has been decided to constitute a committee to frame and suggest a regulatory framework for online media/ news portals including digital broadcasting and entertainment/ infotainment sites and news/ media aggregators.
Expected Questions
Which of the following has constituted a 10-member committee to frame a regulatory policy for news portals and channels over fake news row?
a. Information and Broadcasting Ministry
b. Press Trust of India
c. Press Council of India
d. Comptroller and Auditor General of India
e. Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology
Which of the following regulate print media in India?
a. Information and Broadcasting Ministry
b. Press Trust of India
c. Press Council of India
d. Comptroller and Auditor General of India
e. Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology
