The Government of Goa, in
supersession to all previous Notifications published in the Official Gazette in
this behalf, hereby makes the following rules namely: (1) These Rules may be called the Goa Media Representatives Accreditation
Rules, 2014. They shall come into force
from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. In these rules, unless the
context otherwise requires: (a) "Government" means the Government of Goa; (b) "Member Secretary" means the Director of Information &
Publicity of the Government; (c) "Newspaper" means any publication, printed and distributed at
fixed intervals, which contains news and comments of public interest as defined
in the Press and Registration of Books Act (25 of 1867) but not a publication
containing information of sectional interest such as house journals; (d) "State" means the State of Goa; (e) "Working Journalist" means a working journalist as defined in
the Working Journalist and other Newspaper employees (conditions of Service)
and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 (45 of 1955), as amended from time to
time; These rules may be
amended/altered/modified/added to, on the recommendation of the Committee, if a
proposal to this effect is made to the Committee, by at least three of its
members or the Member Secretary. These rules shall apply to the
accreditation of media representatives to the Government. (i) Accreditation: Recognition granted to
reporters/correspondents/editors//cameramen of media organizations (as defined
in sub clause 4) to have access to news materials, written and pictorial; to
offices and officers of the Government at the Headquarters and other centre for
gathering news; access for laws, rules, notifications, press releases,
background papers, etc., of the activities of the Government; for invitations
and admission without any hindrance to functions, press conferences, statutory
events and other activities of the Government; facilities in terms of travel,
research, documentation etc. relating to news gathering. The accreditation
should be available throughout the State, as decided by the Committee. (ii) Correspondent/Reporter/Media Representative: A Working Journalist
employed by a newspaper, magazine, news agency, television channel, radio
organization or news portal, together and file news items regularly for the
newspaper, magazine, television channel, radio organization or news portal, as
defined in clause 2 (iv) of these rules. The definition of Working Journalist
for print media, including newspapers, magazines and news agencies, shall be
generally the same as the definition in the Working Journalist Act. (iii) Cameramen: Still and television cameramen employed by media
organizations for taking picture or videograph news events. (iv) Editor: Editor of a Newspaper, magazine, television channel, radio
organization, news portal, who is in charge of news selection and editorial
policy of the organization, including Chief Editor, Editor-in-Chief, Managing
Editor, Executive Editor, Resident Editor. (v) Media Organization: Newspaper, magazine, television channel, radio
organization, news portal, recognized by Government of Goa under relevant laws
and rules like PRB Act, up linking Guidelines for Television Channels, Prasar
Bharati Act, DFP, PIB, Department of Information & Publicity etc. (vi) News Media: shall include newspapers, wire service and non wire service,
news agencies, news feature agencies, electronic media agencies, news portals
containing news and comments on public news. (vii) Newspaper/Magazine: shall have the same definition as given in the Press
and Registration of Books Act, 1867. A Daily newspaper shall be published on
not less than five days in a week; A Weekly or Fortnightly newspaper shall have
not less than 42 or 22 issues in a year respectively. A monthly shall not have
less than 10 issues in a year. Magazines shall have 100 percent news content. (viii) News Agency: shall be wire and non wire organizations which supply news
on a minute to minute or daily basis to a number of media organizations, both
print and electronic. It should be registered under Shops and Establishment
Act, Companies Act etc. at the time of commencement and its standing should be
more than 3 years in the State of Goa. Agency shall have minimum 3
paying subscribers from among accredited newspapers and media units in the
State. (ix) News Feature Agencies: shall be agencies which supply news and features
based on current affairs to newspaper organization on a weekly or fortnightly
basis. It should be registered under Shops and Establishment Act, Companies Act
etc. at the time of commencement and its standing should be more than 3 years
in the State of Goa. Agency shall have minimum 3
paying subscribers from among accredited newspapers and media units in the
State. The applicant shall submit
clippings of the articles by concerned news feature agency published in
different newspapers//magazines of the State for a period of 3 months prior to
the date of application for accreditation. (x) Radio Organization: means any media organization which broadcast news
bulletins and carries current affairs programmes, including All India Radio
which operates under the Prasar Bharati Act. (xi) Television Channel: (a) Include TV service providers operating in Goa and having news telecast
of minimum 3 hours per day. (b) Shall have the same meaning as News and Current Affairs Channels
permitted under Guidelines of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
This includes the news channels of Doordarshan operating under the Prasar
Bharati Act. (c) Include TV service providers operating in Goa and having news telecast
of maximum 3 hours per day. The organization running the channel should be
registered as a media house with the Government either under Companies Act,
Shops and Establishments Act or any other recognized authority formed by the
Government for this purpose. Its standing should be more than 3 years in the
State of Goa. Having news telecast of
minimum 3 hours per day. Its standing should be more than 3 years in the State
of Goa. (xii) Television and Radio News Agency: shall be media organizations which
provides news clips and feeds to television channels and radio stations. It should be registered under
Shops and Establishment Act, Companies Act etc. at the time of commencement and
its standing should be more than 3 years in the State of Goa. (xiii) News portals/news service providers: are news and current websites which
provide continuous news coverage and current affairs features for minimum
period of 02 years. Only news portals run by
entities duly registered under Companies Act, Shops and Establishment Act as a
media house shall be considered for the accreditation. News portals/news
service providers Hall have 100 per cent news content. Its articles should be on
current social, political, economic and other matter of public interest. The Director of Department of
Information & Publicity, Government of Goa who also function as Member
Secretary shall issue a photo identity card to all
reporters/correspondents/news//cameramen/videographers and editors to whom the
accreditation is granted by the Committee, and whenever necessary, the card
should have authorization to enter all premises of the Central and State
Governments, without any requirement of obtaining visitor pass. Committee formed by the
Government for considering and sanctioning of accreditation, and to recommend
steps for facilities for news gathering by accredited correspondents and news
organizations. Shall be a permanent
organization, whose membership will change every two years. There shall be no
discontinuity in the functioning of the Committee and it shall be the responsibility
of the Government to ensure that the nomination of fresh members is notified
before the term of the earlier team expires. In case the Government is unable
to nominate the new members, the old Committee will continue until the new
Committee is constituted. (a) The Press Accreditation Committee shall consist of not less than 10
members, representing various recognized mainstream media organizations. (b) The Accreditation Committee formed by the State Government shall have 03
representatives of the Editors Guild, 08 representatives of Goa Union of
Journalists//out of which 04 shall be from print media, 01 shall be news
photographer, 02 from electronic media, (one cameraman and one news gatherer)
and 01 sports reporter preferably recommended by the respective organization. (c) No member shall continue for more than two consecutive terms. The Director of Information
& Publicity shall be Member Secretary. The Member Secretary shall be
responsible for convening the meetings of the Committee, scheduling the agenda
and for implementing the decisions of the Committee. The Joint Director of
Information and Publicity shall assist the Member Secretary. Both shall have no
right to vote. The Chairman of the Committee
shall be a senior journalist, who shall be elected by the Committee through a
majority vote. The Chairman shall have minimum 10 years experience as Working
Journalist (preferably accredited) and shall be ineligible for a second
consecutive term. The Committee shall meet once
in a month, last Friday, if not feasible 1st Friday of following month or more
frequently, if considered necessary. The quorum shall be 50 percent of the
total membership. The Committee shall admit
newspapers, news agencies, magazines, TV channels, radio organizations, news
portals provided they fulfill the basic criteria of providing contemporaneous
news to their readers, subscribed, viewers, listeners as the case may be. They
should carry at least 100 per cent of its contents as news/comments of general
public interest. The decision of the Committee on whether the applicants carry
100 per cent of content as news is final. These organizations must have been
officially registered under relevant Act and rules and functioning as news organization
for a period of at least six months before they are eligible for accreditation
as an organization. However, if a publication changes the periodicity of
publication but continues to carry minimum 100 per cent of contents as news,
current affairs comments of general public interest, then its admission shall
continue. The nature of the content
published//telecast shall be responsible, impartial and non-communal in nature. However, if the Committee is
unanimously satisfied that news organization needs temporary accreditation from
the day it starts the operations, then the Committee may grant few
accreditation to the applicant organization. (a) The newspapers registered, printed and published in Goa are entitled for
03 reporters, 01 sports reporter, 01 news photographer based at headquarter at
Panaji and 01 reporter, 01 news photographer and 01 sports reporter in South. (b) TV service providers operating in Goa shall be entitled for Press
accreditation to two reporters and two cameramen each. (c) Periodicals like monthlies, fortnightlies and weeklies are entitled for
Press accreditation to one reporter and one news photographer. (d) Media organizations like PIB, DDK (News), AIR (News) shall be entitled
for two reporters and one photographer//cameraperson while the DIP, State
Government Media agency is entitled for 2 reporters (media officials),
01photographer; 1 videographer and in addition 02reporters (media officials) in
the South. (1) Accreditation does not confer any official status on the media
representatives but shall recognize and identify him/her as a professional
journalist dealing with news of public interest. He/she shall not have letter
heads, visiting cards and display boards with the words "Accredited to the
Government of Goa" or any words to similar effect. (2) Accreditation shall be used for journalistic purpose and for no other
purpose. Accreditation is personal and
not transferable. A minimum of three years
experience at a stretch in prominent news organization, is required to consider
the application of an editor/reporter/correspondent//photographer/TV
cameraman-reporter//media official for accreditation to the Government of Goa.
The journalist seeking accreditation shall furnish the prescribed application
form duly filled authenticated by the editor/publisher along with the company
letterhead signed by the editor and enclose appointment/contract letter/latest
salary slip//proof of birth. Appointment should be of full time journalist. In
case of TV service providers in Goa, the applications should be routed through
Electronic Media Journalists Association (EMJA) and should have been approved
at their General Body meeting before forwarding to the PAC. Educational
qualifications in case of electronic media local news channel journalists
should be atleast SSC with course in journalism. For the purpose of
accreditation, editor should be considered as being engaged in the news gathering
and should be given accreditation. The Committee shall satisfy itself that the
applicant is fully employed in the news organization by asking for the news
clippings, video clips, radio clips etc. apart from employment certificate, a
certificate from the publisher that the applicant is engaged in the news
reporting. The accreditation of editor shall be recommended by the publisher.
The Committee shall not give accreditation to advertising or sales persons who
put in a claim that they are also correspondents. On satisfaction that the
applicant meets the criterion to be an accredited correspondent, the Committee
shall permit grant of accreditation, subject to the availability of the quota
of the news organization. The Member Secretary shall
issue the accreditation card for journalist within a fortnight of the date of
approval by the Committee. The fee of Rs. 150 per Accreditation Card shall be
paid by the journalist, subject to revision. In case of duplicate/renewal of
accreditation card the journalist will have to pay additional fee of Rs. 150/-. In case the Committee rejects
the application of a media, organization, or a journalist on behalf of a media
organization for accreditation, then the applicant organization//individual
shall be informed the reasons for rejection in writing within a fortnight. The
applicant organization/individual can make amends or place other relevant facts
before the Committee for reconsideration within a month's time on receipt of
letter from Member Secretary. However, the Committee's decision, after such
reconsideration, shall be final. The Committee can grant
accreditation to senior journalists, who are freelancing, provided they have
been continuously working for news organization for last 25 years, provided
they show evidence that their main vocation is of journalism and that they are
earning their livelihood through journalism. The Committee may grant
special accreditation to journalists on application in prescribed form, self
authenticated who have done a long and distinguished service as accredited
correspondents provided they are above 58 years of age and were accredited for
minimum period of 15 years; and are actively pursuing journalism at the time of
recognition of their services. The accreditation issued in this category is
only a recognition and shall not accrue any benefit as extended to regular
accredited journalist. The accreditation cards issued
to editors/reporters/correspondents//cartoonists/news photographers/TV
cameramen, etc. shall be valid for a period of two years. Under the general
directions of the Committee, the Member Secretary shall renew the accreditation
of all accredited journalists once in two years, ensuring that the accredited
journalist is not deprived of the facility even for a single day. The Committee
shall consider/treat as cancelled the accreditation card of accredited
journalist who fails to renew the same within period of 30 days. In case a correspondent/reporter
who work for more than one organization, and requests for additional
accreditation, the Committee may not entertain such applications to grant
additional accreditation. All Government Ministries,
Departments, undertakings and other wings shall provide access and information
to accredited journalists, and they shall not discriminate amongst accredited
journalist for dissemination of news. The Committee shall withdraw
the accreditation, provided: The editor informs the
Committee that the journalist has reassigned within the organization. The editor informs the
Committee that the news organization has closed down/or is no longer carrying
50 per cent content as news. The journalist is no longer an
employee of the news organization. If a journalist has been
censured at least twice by the Press Council of India for professional
misconduct. If the Committee were to come
to the conclusion that the journalist has made gross misuse of the
accreditation facility, then he shall be given an opportunity to answer the
charges, and the Committee shall record its reasons for withdrawal of
accreditation. As journalists enjoy the
protection of the Constitution, the Accreditation Committee shall ensure that
the accreditation is not cancelled for any malafide or frivolous reason by the
State Government or any politician or official who have a grudge against journalists
publication news which may be unpalatable. No media organization or journalist
shall be deprived of accreditation merely on the ground that he had published
what was claimed to be an official secret, or that he has published reports
which are unfavourable to the Government or its Ministers or Officials. (a) Apart from considering applications for grant and withdrawal of
accreditation by news organization and journalists, the Committee shall discuss
and recommend measures for providing additional facilities to news
organizations and journalists to improve the quality of news dissemination. (b) Editor/journalists deputed by editors of newspapers, magazines, news
agencies, television and radio organization, news portals who are accredited by
a State Accreditation Committee shall be considered eligible for accreditation
to the Government of India as its headquarters in New Delhi and offices in
State capital/s, even though they may not be residing in the National Capital
Region, with a view to ensure that the news relating to Government of India is
disseminated in all regions and editors/accredited journalists from all over
India have access to Government of India's offices. Government media organization
viz. the Department of Information & Publicity, Press Information Bureau of
Government of India, News Services Division of All India Radio, the News unit
of Doordarshan, the Photo Division of Government of India may be deemed as
equivalent to experience the work in a news media organization for the purpose
of accreditation. Those officers having experience of Journalistic Work in
Media Unit of the Information and Publicity Department of the State Government
other than those referred to above, may also be considered for the purpose of
accreditation, if the Committee would be satisfied about their journalistic
experience. (1) Accreditation card bearing a passport size photograph of the media
representatives will be issued to an accredited media representative by the
Member Secretary. (2) The accreditation card will normally be utilized for attending press
conference convened by the Government, or any authorized Government officer and
for entry into Government Offices. (3) The accreditation card shall not be admissible for attending special
functions or conferences, where entry is covered by special invitation cards
and security passes. (4) The accreditation card will entitle the holder to receive the facilities
provided to him//her by the Government from time to time in respect of medical,
transport, housing, Government accommodation in the State of Goa. Notwithstanding anything
contained in these rules, the Government shall be free to take any action
warranted by circumstances in matters relating to accreditation and
disaccreditation and in giving press facilities and in all these cases, the
Government decision shall be final. GOA MEDIA
REPRESENTATIVES ACCREDITATION RULES, 2014
PREAMBLE