I&B ministry seeks stakeholders' views on curbs on 'paid news'

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has sought stakeholders' views vis-a-vis its proposal for bringing in amendments to the Press and Registration of Books and Publications (PRB) Act which specify that publications carrying "paid news" will lose registration.
In a statement here, the ministry pointed out that the PRB Act of 1867 had been enacted to create a system for keeping a record of publications through regulation of printing presses and newspapers.
And, in order to make the Act relevant in the present scenario, the Press and Registration of Books and Publication (PRBP) Bill, 2011, was introduced in Parliament on December 16, 2011, and referred to the Standing Committee on Information Technology.

The Standing Committee submitted its report to Parliament on December 20, 2012, the ministry said, inviting suggestions by November 19 from various stakeholders interested in the subject matter of the Bill.
The draft Press and Registration of Books and Publications Bill, 2013, seeks to define what constitutes paid news.
As per the definition in the draft, "Paid news means publishing any news or analysis in the publication for a price in cash or kind as consideration."

The draft also prescribes the course of action to be adopted in case a publication is found to have engaged in the practice of paid news.

If a publication is found guilty of carrying paid news, the declaration made by it under the provisions of the Act would be cancelled along with the registration certificate issued by the Press Registrar General, the draft says.
Another important amendment proposed in the draft bill is for the definition of newspapers to be expanded to include its internet editions as well.