New guidelines for issuance of 2020 official media accreditation cards

Monday, 9 December 2019 01:45 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Govt. says move aimed at creating quality media practices and quality enhancement
Govt. accreditation only for professional journalists
Web journalists’ IDs only after recommendation of special committee
Using ID for personal requirements could lead to its cancellation

New guidelines have been laid down by the Government for the issuing of official media accreditation cards for the year 2020 with a view of creating quality media practices and culture that enables journalists to perform their duties without any obstruction, and to enhance the professional quality and dignity of the profession.

Those who will be considered as a news reporter/journalist for issuing of media accreditation will be “an individual who collects news and information, edits the collected information, and communicates that information to subscriber/reader”.

The new guidelines have been issued by Director General of Government Information Nalaka Kaluwewe who has requested that all heads of print and electronic media institutions and heads of news and current affairs sections take necessary action to recommend professional journalists only for issuing of this accreditation.

The official media accreditation cards are issued annually by the Information Department to print, electronic, radio and television, web and foreign journalists.

Under the guidelines, the issuance of media Identity Cards for websites from next year onwards will be taken into consideration upon the recommendations of special committee appointed by the DG of Government Information, the competent authority of Media Accreditation.

The Web Media Identity Cards will only be issued to the websites reporting news and current events and the respective website will have to be registered with the Ministry of Mass Media and Information for the year 2020.

Media Identity Cards will not be issued to artists in the field of cinema/television/theatre and dramatic art, nor for advertising agencies and video production companies.

The guidelines state that the Director General of Government Information possesses the authority of investigation and cancellation of Media Identity Card of a journalist, in the event of complaints submitted regarding the use of printed, electronic or web media accreditations for the purpose of personal achievements.