News Broadcasters Association welcomes PM Modi's decision to withdraw I&B ministry's order on 'fake news'
The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the Prime Minister’s Office to withdraw the press release on orders relating to 'fake news'.
NBA President and India TV Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma thanked the government for not interfering with press accreditation guidelines.
"I welcome PMO's decision on not interfering with press accreditation guidelines. I urge upon industry colleagues to join hands to combat the proliferation of 'fake news'," he said in a statement released by the NBA.
The private news broadcaster's body, NBA also welcomed the decision to let industry bodies i.e., NBA and the Press Council of India (PCI) decide all issues relating to 'fake news'.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Monday released a press release stating that the journalists could be denied government access on the accusation of fake news and they could lose their accreditation for a limited period or permanently. But the orders were withdrawn after an intervention by the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday.
PMO, in its order, said that any decision on such matters should be taken up by Press Council of India for print and News Broadcasting Association in case of electronic media.
The NBA represents 25 leading news and current affairs broadcasters (comprising 65 news and current affairs channels). The association presents a unified and credible voice before the government, on matters that affect the growing industry.
Here is the full statement by News Broadcasting Association:
"Mr. Rajat Sharma, President, News Broadcasters Association (NBA), welcomes the decision of the Prime Minister’s Office to withdraw the Press Release dated 2.4.2018 issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting relating to “Guidelines for Accreditation of Journalists Amended to
Regulate Fake News”. NBA also welcomes the decision to let industry bodies i.e. NBA and the Press Council of India (PCI) decide all issues relating to “Fake News”."
