NBA protests Press Council move to bring broadcast, social media under its purview

Says the move will negate the self-regulatory mechanism in the broadcast media that has been in force for the last several years

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi August 31, 2012

The NBA is surprised and extremely disappointed to note that the Chairman, Press Council of India, has unilaterally released a resolution purportedly passed by the Press Council of India at its meeting held on August 27, 2012 to initiate suitable legislation to amend the Press Council Act to bring the electronic media, both broadcast and social media, within the purview of the Press Council Act and renaming it as The Media Council.

In a press statement, the NBA has strongly opposed this move which “seeks to negate the self-regulatory mechanism that has been in force for the last several years and has had a very real and positive impact in improving broadcasting standards”.

The statement says that this is not the first time that the Chairman of the Press Council has made such comments. “When similar statements were made in 2011, NBA wrote to the Prime Minister opposing any such move and highlighting the achievements of the self-regulatory body. NBA's position remains the same. Click here to read the letter sent to the Prime Minister.

The NBA has urged the Press Council Chairman to engage himself constructively with print media matters, “which is the mandate he has under the Press Council Act and not to exceed his remit on commenting upon areas which are outside his jurisdiction”.

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