NEW DELHI: In an interaction with members of the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) on Thursday, information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said the new digital media rules would create a level playing field for all forms of media, including publishers who cover news on digital platforms only.
During a video conference with DNPA members representing the Times of India, India Today, Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, ABP, Eenadu, Dainik Jagran and Lokmat among others, Javadekar said the new rules placed certain responsibilities on digital news publishers, which included adherence to a Code of Ethics on the lines of norms of journalistic conduct framed by the Press Council of India and the Programme Code under the Cable Television Network Act.
DNPA welcomed the new rules and said TV and print media had been following norms laid down under the Cable Television Network Act and the Press Council Act.
It also requested the ministry to treat purely digital news platforms differently from traditional news publishers who also publish news on digital platforms, since they already follow norms pertaining to traditional news platforms.
Javadekar also said the rules provide for a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism and digital news publishers will need to furnish basic information to the government through a simple form which the ministry is finalising. He added that digital news platforms will be periodically required to show efforts they have made to address user grievances.
The minister said while print media and TV channels had digital versions whose content was almost the same as that on traditional platforms, some content was exclusively digital. He also said the new rules will bring purely digital news platform at par with traditional media. He said the government will take note of DNPA’s suggestions and continue the consultative process for the growth of the media industry.