PR/16/2012-2013 12th March, 2013
Press Note
by Justice Markandey Katju, Chairman,
Press Council of India
For quite some time an issue has
arisen about the need for a qualification for entry into the profession of
journalism. In the lawyers profession an
LLB Degree as well as registration in a Bar Council is required. Similarly, for entry into the medical
profession the necessary qualification is an MBBS Degree and also registration
with the Medical Council. For becoming a teacher a teacher’s training
certificate/degree is required. Many other professions have the requirement of
some qualification before one can enter that profession.
However, at present there is no
qualification for entry into the profession of journalism. Hence very often persons with little or inadequate training in journalism enter
the profession, and this often leads to negative effects, because such
untrained persons often do not maintain high standards of journalism.
For quite some time, therefore, it has
been felt that there must be some legal qualification before one can enter the
profession of journalism. There are no
doubt many institutions which impart teaching in journalism (some of which is
very unsatisfactory) but there is as yet no legal requirement for having any
qualification before entering the profession.
Since the media has an important influence
on the lives of the people, the time has now come when some qualification
should be prescribed by law. Accordingly
I constitute the following team which is requested to consider all aspects of
the matter and submit a report to me at an early date suggesting the
qualifications a person should have before he can be allowed to enter the
profession of journalism.
On receipt of the report I intend to place it before the Full Press council, and after getting its approval shall forward it to the Government for initiating suitable legislation for this purpose.
The members of the team as follows:
1) Shri Shravan
Garg, Member, Press Council of India - Convenor
2) Shri Rajeev Sabade, Member, Press Council of
India - Member
3) Dr. Ujjwala
Barve, Associate Professor, Department of Communication &
Journalism,
University of Pune
- Member
The team is requested to submit its report at an early date. The Central and all State Governments and
Journalism Departments and institutes in India are requested to extend all
co-operations to the team. Smt. Vibha Bhargava, Secretary, Press Council of
India is directed to provide all logistics and other support to the team.
(Justice Markandey Katju)
Chairman,
Press council of India
