{"id":1614,"date":"2018-04-05T03:50:25","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T03:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/southandcentralasiablog\/?p=1614"},"modified":"2018-04-05T03:50:25","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T03:50:25","slug":"india-backs-down-over-plan-to-ban-journalists-for-fake-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/southandcentralasiablog\/2018\/04\/05\/india-backs-down-over-plan-to-ban-journalists-for-fake-news\/","title":{"rendered":"India backs down over plan to ban journalists for ‘fake news’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Indian government has scrapped a plan to blacklist journalists judged to be writing \u201cfake news\u201d less than a day after it was announced to widespread criticism.<\/p>\n

India\u2019s information and broadcasting ministry said late on Monday that journalists or agencies accused of creating or spreading fake news would be referred to the Press Council of\u00a0India<\/a>\u00a0and another statutory body for broadcast media.<\/p>\n

The notice, which cited \u201cthe increasing instances of fake news\u201d but did not define it, said journalists would have their official accreditation suspended as soon as any complaint was registered even before it was judged whether it was valid.<\/p>\n

Journalists in India can report and publish without official accreditation but the card is usually required for access to government buildings, events and press conferences.<\/p>\n

The accreditation of a journalist or agency confirmed to have been producing fake news would have been suspended for six months in the first instance, for a year the second time, and permanently if they were found guilty again by the press council, a body that includes several members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP).<\/p>\n

But in a U-turn on Tuesday, the office of the prime minister,\u00a0Narendra Modi<\/a>, withdrew the notice, saying the response to the fake news issue should be dealt with by the press council alone.<\/p>\n

The announcement had been widely criticised by Indian journalists and opposition figures. Press associations had called an emergency meeting for Tuesday afternoon to coordinate a response.<\/p>\n

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Shekhar Gupta<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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\u2714<\/b><\/span><\/span>@ShekharGupta<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Make no mistake: this is a breathtaking assault on mainstream media. It\u2019s a moment like Rajiv Gandhi\u2019s anti-defamation bill. All media shd bury their differences and resist this. https:\/\/<\/span>theprint.in\/politics\/govt-<\/span>fake-news-cancel-accreditation-journalists\/46622\/\u00a0<\/span>\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n

2:08 PM – Apr 2, 2018<\/a><\/div>\n
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Govt to crack down on fake news, cancel journalists’ accreditation<\/h2>\n

Centre proposes six months\u2019 suspension for a first violation, one year for a second violation and permanent cancellation for a third violation.<\/p>\n

theprint.in<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n