Editors Guild condemns I&B ministry's fake news order, thanks Modi for intervening
Mumbai: The Editors Guild of India on Tuesday released a statement against the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s previous bid to suspend or cancel a journalist’s Press Information Bureau Accreditation if he or she is found to have created or propagated fake news.
The guild strongly criticised the I&B ministry’s arbitrary mode of punishing a journalist or a media organisation publishing fake news saying, the order leaves scope for false complaints to harass journalists and media houses.
Editors Guild of India strongly condemns arbitrary manner contemplated by I &B Ministry ostensibly to penalise any journalist or media organisation publishing fake news. It would have opened door for frivolous complaints to harass journalists and orgs to fall in line: Statement
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2018
The Editors Guild also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervening into the matter.
Also Read: PM Modi directs I&B ministry to withdraw fake news order
Earlier on Tuesday, Modi directed that the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting be withdrawn and the matter should only be addressed in Press Council of India.
However, the guild also expressed its dissatisfaction over the fact that the Centre’s faith rests only on the Press Council of India to deliver justice in such cases.
The Editors Guild acknowledges the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Office to withdraw the I & B Ministry’s notification but remains deeply disturbed that faith continues to be reposed on the Press Council of India to deliver justice on such issues: Statement
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2018
