Question : Protest Against Central Media Accreditation Guidelines-2022

(a) whether it is a fact that journalists along with the Press Trust of India are protesting against the Central Media Accreditation guidelines–2022 and if so, the reasons therefore;

(b) whether it is a fact that the Government released these guidelines without any consultation with stakeholders and the journalistic community, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government nominated officials have been given discretion to decide that a journalist’s story is moral, decent among other open-ended subjective grounds;

(d) whether this is an attempt to suppress journalist’s access to information and freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India; and

(e) whether it is a fact that there has been an inordinate delay in the renewal of accreditation cards of journalists by Press Information Bureau (PIB) and if so, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a) to (b) The Government has issued The Central Media Accreditation Guidelines, 2022 for grant of accreditation to working journalists at the headquarters of the Government of India. While formulating these Guidelines, the Central Government took into consideration suggestions received by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) from various stakeholders including Members of the erstwhile Central Press Accreditation Committee, Media Associations, representatives of online media, etc.
(c) Central Media Accreditation Committee is chaired by the Principal DG, PIB and comprising of up to 25 Members representing different media organisations to discharge the functions laid down under these guidelines and take decision on the basis of various criteria laid down therein.
(d) No Sir.
(e) Process for renewal of PIB accreditation card has been opened immediately after new “The Central Media Accreditation Guidelines, 2022” were issued. PIB has already started issuing the PIB accreditation cards from 25th February, 2022.