House Panel to Review Media Laws Implementation Today

The Parliament's standing committee on communications and information technology will meet on Friday to “review the implementation of laws related to all forms of media” and discuss various related factors.

Sources indicated that the committee, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, is expected to discuss issues such as the “rampant” paid news, the rise of fake news, the sensationalism in many TV news channels, and the challenges faced by traditional newspapers due to digital disruption and declining readership.

Sources revealed that the panel may also express concerns over the excessive focus on crime and celebrity news at the expense of important, serious coverage, as some channels resort to sensationalism in pursuit of higher TRPs.

Sources noted that the committee cannot overlook how media trials of high-profile cases can shape public opinion and influence their legal proceedings. The issue of TV debates often devolving into shouting matches and mudslinging is also expected to be addressed in the meeting.

A source stated that conflicts of interest between media owners, journalists, and political entities undermine the credibility of news, with ethical boundaries often being crossed due to the absence of a strong regulatory mechanism.

Other key issues likely to concern the committee include the costly and prolonged legal battles faced by journalists and media houses, which deter investigative journalism. A source also highlighted the severe financial strain on regional and vernacular media, along with the havoc caused by fake news, especially during elections.

Some of the issues likely to be considered by the panel are how big foreign companies have dominated control of social media. This might bring about serious harm to the society, its political leaders, parties, and even the nation.

The committee is expected to hear from key officials, including the Information and Broadcasting Secretary, the CEO of Prasar Bharti, the Press Registrar General, and the Chairperson of the Press Council of India.

The panel also expected to further discuss how laws and other media mechanisms changed over time, right from the Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act of 1867, which the government eventually replaced with the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill of 2023.

According to sources, the functioning of the Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory quasi-judicial body established under the Press Council of India Act, 1978, is also expected to be discussed.