Location: India, New Delhi
Date: February 9, 2022

Published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on its own website, the new guidelines for central media accreditation have caused much concern among journalist groups in the country. The new guidelines list at least ten new vaguely worded clauses, open to interpretation, which can revoke journalistic license. Many view this as an attempt to curtail criticism of the BJP-led government and fear that this would have a direct impact on the democratic principles of the country.

The Central Media Accreditation Guidelines, 2022 state that a journalist’s accreditation can be suspended of withdrawn if he or she “acts in a manner which is prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality of in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offense.” The license could also be suspended if the journalist engages in “non-journalistic activities” or if he or she “has been charged with a serious cognizable offense,” the guidelines went on to say. 

The vague nature of these conditions caused much concern, with several highlighting that these can be used as an excuse to crush any criticism of dissenting opinion. The committee which will ensure adherence to these guidelines will be appointed by the government. The circular states that “the Government of India shall constitute a Committee called the Central Media Accreditation Committee, chaired by the Principal DG, PIB and comprising of up to 25 members nomination by the Government of India to discharge the functions laid down under these guidelines.”

The aforementioned clause lends credibility to the fear of the guidelines being weaponized to stifle any criticism of the government in the media. Furthermore, the guidelines were introduced without any prior warnings or consultation with journalist unions or media regulatory bodies. In a letter to Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur, the Press Club of India stated that, “As and when, based on the demands of different organisations, policies were amended with a view to raising the quota of accreditation, policymakers took the trouble to seek the suggestions of the Central Press Accreditation Committee (CPAC), Press Association and other senior journalists… this practice is not being followed now.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned about the issuance of these new guidelines and what it could potentially mean for free press in India. The more vulnerable the press gets in the country, ethnic and gender minorities that are part of the media become especially susceptible to its potential fallout. The attempt to silence media and stifle dissent is indicative of the deteriorating state of democratic principles in India. Authorities should be mindful of the long term impact of the policies that are being introduced to facilitate the current regime.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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