Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Meghalaya

About us | Who's Who of IPR | Basic Facts of Meghalaya | Meghalaya Press Accreditation Rules | Advertisement Policy | Monograph | Important Telephone Nos. | Representatives of Electronic & Print Media | Press Releases | Tender Notices | Job Advertisement | Photo Gallery | Home

Meghalaya Press Accreditation Rules

Shillong, the 11th October 1999

No. IPR.11/92.- Whereas it is considered necessary and expedient to frame relating to Press Accreditation and matters incidental thereto now, therefore the Governor of Meghalaya is pleased to make the following rules.-

CHAPTER - I

Short title and - 1. (a) These rules may be called the Meghalaya Press Accreditation Rules, 1999 Commencement:

(b) They shall com into force with effect from the date of their notification in the official Gazette.

CHAPTER - II

Definitations: - 2. In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires: -

(a) “Accredited Correspondent” means a correspondent who has been granted accreditation in accordance with the procedure prescribed by these rules.

(b) “Director” means the Director of Information and Public Relations, Government of Meghalaya.

(c) “Editor” means the person who is declared as the Editor under the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1967.

(d) “Government” means the State Government of Meghalaya.

(e) “Journalist” means a person who may be in the pay roll of the journal of self-employed and engaged in regular contribution of columns and features on current affairs to Newspaper/News Agencies/News Magazines.

(f) “Newspaper” means a daily, bi-weekly, weekly and such other periodical publication containing public news and comments on public news.

(g) “Press Accreditation Committee” means the Committee set up by the Government under these rules.

(h) “Press Correspondent” means a correspondent representing any Newspaper/News Agency and employed as a whole time correspondent by the Management of the said Newspaper/News Agency.

(i) “Press Photographer” means a photographer representing any newspaper and employed as a whole time photographer by the employer of the newspaper concerned.

(j) “Recognised Correspondent” means a correspondent who has been granted recognition in accordance with the procedure prescribe by these rules and

(k) “Stringer” means a correspondent not in the whole time employment of any Newspaper/News Agency and who is paid a retainer’s fee.

3. Setting up a Press Accreditation Committee: -

(1) The State Government shall appoint a Committee namely, State Press Accreditation committee in regard to grant of Press Accreditation to news media representatives, whose decision in this regard would be final. The Press Accreditation Committee shall consist of the following members namely: -

(a) 2 (two) members to be nominated by the Meghalaya Union of Journalists from amongst its members.

(b) 2 (two) members to be nominated by the Meghalaya Editors and Publishers Association from amongst its members.

(c) The Director of Information and Public Relations of North Eastern Council.

(d) The Director of Information and Public Relation, Meghalaya, Shillong as member Secretary and

(e) The Commissioner and Secretary/Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Information and Public Relations Department as the Chairman.

(2) The Committee shall meet at such intervals, as may be necessary to consider proposals of Accreditation or disaccreditation cases. The number of such meetings shall not be less than two in any one year.

(3) Term of the Committee shall be for a period of two years, provided, however, that the Committee will continue till it is reconstituted.

(4) Four members present in the meeting of the Committee shall form a quorum.

4. Procedure for applying accreditation/Recognition: -

(1) Application for accreditation/recognition shall be made by a correspondent through the Editor/Management of the Newspaper, or News Agency in which he is employed to the Director with full details of the professional experience of the correspondent who has applied for accreditation/recognition at the State Level.

(2) In regard to the accreditation/recognition at District Level/Sub-Divisional Level the application shall be made through the Public Relations Officer, of the District/Sub-Divisional concerned to the Director. The Public Relations Officer, while forwarding the application may certify that the applicant has not been convicted in a court of law for committing offence involving moral turpitude or causing criminal offence in the course of his/her profession: provided that in no circumstances the Public Relations Officer shall with hold any such application beyond a reasonable period of time.

(3) The Director shall refer the application with relevant information to the Press Accreditation Committee for deciding on all such applications and the Press Card shall be issued to the Press Correspondent concerned by the Director on the recommendation of the Press Accreditation Committee.

(4) A news Media representative who wishes to apply for a grant of accreditation shall apply in the form as may be prescribed for the purpose to the Director for grant of such accreditation.

5. (1) Conditions for Accreditation: - The Correspondent of Newspaper or a News Agency should fulfill the following conditions for accreditation namely: -

(i) he/she should be a working journalist and should be engaged whole time in the profession of Journalism;

(ii) at the time of application he/she should have spent not less than three years in the profession of Journalism and/or should be a person of sufficient experience and standing to be able to discharge his/her duties in a competent and responsible manner.

(2) In the case of News Agencies, the following factors shall be taken into consideration to determine accreditation, namely-

(i) nature and type of Agency;

(ii) method of distribution of its services;

(iii) names of the Newspapers which subscribe to the News Agency;

(iv) names of the Head office and Branch office of the News Agency;

(v) The following factors shall be taken into consideration for granting of accreditation of Press Photograph/Correspondents of dailies Newspapers/Weekly etc. namely-

(a) For Daily Newspapers/Weeklies etc. published within the State of Meghalaya:

(i) Nature and type of Newspapers.

(ii) The Newspaper should be published regularly and without any break between one publication and another. (Normally accreditation is restricted to daily and weekly newspapers. This normal practice should be relaxed only in special circumstances).

(iii) The circulation of the newspaper should not be less than 2000 copies per issue in the case of local English/Language daily and 500 copies per issue in the case of local weekly to be certified by the Registrar of Newspapers for India or the Audit Bureau of circulation or the Chartered Accountant.

(iv) Self-employed journalist with atleast 10 (ten) years time professional experience engaged in regular contribution of columns and features on current affairs may be extended accreditation for their journalist activity, on the recommendation of the representative of the professional bodies in the State Press Accreditation Committee.

(b) For Press Photographer:

(i) Professional standing of the newspaper/periodical of photo Agency so represented.

(ii) Professional capability as a Press Photographer.

(iii) Frequency and number of Photographer(s) published and the space devoted for the same.

(3) A newspaper/news agency shall normally be entitled to have one accredited correspondent and only one Press Photographer at the State Headquarter. But the Government may, if considered expedient, allow more than one correspondent to be the accredited depending upon the requirement such as circulation language etc. of the Newspaper/News Agency. However, the Editor of a daily/weekly/periodical may also get accreditation if it is sought for.

(4) ‘Journalist of long and distinguished service of atleast 25 years in the profession, who are to attached to any media organisations on regular basis may be extended facilities for their journalistic activities on the recommendation of the representatives of the professional bodies in the Press Accreditation Committee.

6. Condition for Recognition: - Recognition may be granted to a person provided he fulfills the following conditions: namely-

(i) His residence should be within the State of Meghalaya at the time of applying for recognition:

(ii) He/She should be a stringer/part time Press Correspondent working with one or more newspaper or agency/agencies and is in recept of retainer’s fee;

(iii) At the time of application, he/she should have spent atleast three years in the profession of Journalism; and

(iv) He/she should represent a daily with the minimum circulations of 2000 copies as certified by the Registrar of Newspapers of India of Audit Bureau of Circulation or Chartered Accountant.

CHAPTER - III

7. (1) Disaccreditation/derecognition of Correspondent: As Correspondent shall be liable to disaccreditation if,

(i) He/She has been found to have wilfully furnished false statement and particulars about himself;

(ii) He/She uses for purposes other then journalism for which he was accredited information and facilities provided to him as an accredited representative;

(iii) In the course of his/her duties, he/she behaves in highly indignified manner;

(iv) He/She ignores or violates the specific conditions on which information and facilities are provided by the Government;

(v) He/She publishes official secrets the inviolability of which is accepted by general understanding and the Press Accreditation Committee concurs with the view;

(vi) If he/she is convicted by a competent court of law or awarded any punishment by the Press Council of India for any offence wrong doing committed in his/her professional capacity which is contrary to the journalistic ethics.

(2) Action under sub-rule (1) of rule 7 shall be taken by the Director in consultation with the Press Accreditation Committee provided that in each case, the correspondent of the News Media Organisation concerned should be given an opportunity of a personal hearing by the Press Accreditation Committee before any action is taken.

(3) The decision to dis-accredic of Press Representative shall be communicated to the Government and to the Newspaper of News Agency concerned.

8. Nature of cessation to represent a Newspaper/News Agency: When accredited correspondent ceases to represent a News Agency or a Newspaper on behalf of which he is accredited, the fact should be brought to the notice of the Director in writing by the correspondent as well as by the Editor concerned within 15 (fifteen) days, failing which these facilities accorded to a Newspaper or a News Agency may be withdrawn by the Director and the correspondent would also be liable to be refused any facility thereafter. Any such action taken shall be communicated to the Press Accreditation Committee.

9. (1) Scope of Accreditation Recognition: - These rules shall apply to the accreditation/recognition with in the State of Meghalaya or correspondent representing Indian Newspaper and News Agency.

(2) Accreditation/recognition is personal and is not transferable.

(3) Accreditation/recognition does not confer any official status on a correspondent. The Government merely recognise(s) that the accredited correspondent represents the Newspaper or the News Agency which employs him/her. To cover the tour of the President/Vice President/Prime Minister a Special Press Pass shall be issued to Press Correspondent and Press Photographers which however shall not

(4) The Accreditation shall be used only for journalistic purpose.

(5) The accredited News Media representative shall not use the word “Accredited to the Government of Meghalaya” on visiting cards, letter heads or any other literature.

(6) The accreditation shall be valid for as long as the accredited media representatives fulfills the conditions of grant of accreditation set out hereunder.

CHAPTER - IV

10. Periodical review or accredited/Recognised Correspondent’s list: - The list of accredited/recognised correspondents shall be reviewed periodically.

11. Issue of accreditation/recognition card: - Press Accreditation/Recognition Card shall be issue to each accredited/recognised correspondent the adminision to special functions shall be governed by invitation. A Press correspondent in possession of a Press Accreditation Card/Recognition Card shall automatically be admitted to a Press Conference.

12. Power of Government: - Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules the Government shall be free to take any action warranted by circumstances in matters relating to accreditation/recognition and disaccreditation/derecognition in consultation with the Press Accreditation Committee.

13. List of Accreditation/Recognition/Correspondent: - The Director shall maintain a list of accreditation recognised correspondents with their full address.

CHAPTER - V

14. Grant of Provisional/Accreditation/Recognition: - Provided a correspondent fulfills all the conditions enumerated in these rules for the grant of accreditation or recognition; as the case may be, the Director may grant provisional accreditation/recognition to a correspondent for a period not exceeding 3 (three) months or till the meeting of the Press Accreditation Committee whichever is earlier.

15. Provisional Accreditation/Recognition of Correspondent deputed the State Headquarters for a special period: - If a correspondent is deputed to the State Headquarters by the newspaper for a special period, the Director will have the authority to accord him provisional accreditation/recognition for a period not more than 3 (three) months at the first instance (During this period, the fully accredited/recognised correspondent also will enjoy all the privileges of accredited/recognised correspondent at the headquarters provided he fulfills all the conditions for grant of accreditation/recognition as the case may be).

16. Procedure for issue Card: - After it has been decided to grant accreditation/recognition to a correspondent, a Press Accreditation/Recognition Card bearing a passport size photograph of the person concerned shall be issued to him. This photograph shall be duly attested by the Director.

17. Renewal of Card: - The Accreditation/Recognition Card shall be renewed every year and shall be issued under the signature of the Director.

18. Headquarter of the Press Accreditation Committee: - The headquarter of the Press Accreditation Committee shall be at Shillong.

19. This supercedes the pervious Notifications No. IPR.11/92.28, dated 10th December, 1993 and such as other Accreditation rules prevailing in the State.

 

SANJEEV SABLOK,
Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya
Information and Public Relations Department.

 

Disclaimer: Website designed by National Informatics Centre, Meghalaya. Contents provided by Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Meghalaya.