Modi govt considers regulatory body for journalism, mass communication institutes

The Narendra Modi-led BJP government is mooting the setting-up of a 'Communications University' to work as a regulatory body for journalism and mass communication institutes in the country.

The Indian Express reports, quoted unnamed government sources as saying that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has already begun work  "to conceptualise and bring all diverse institutions dealing with print media, radio, animation, TV and other sub-sectors of the industry under a single establishment serving the nation."

"The Communication University is being thought of as a body that would standardise and regulate the curriculum for journalism and related subjects," a government source told the daily.

The suggestion for such a regulatory framework has reportedly come from the Prime Minister himself. Modi, in a speech earlier this month, referred to the media as the 'best means' for constructive criticism, but cautioned that there must be credibility in its functioning, The Indian Express had reported.

"There is some race, competition taking place in the media. The print media is competing with the electronic media and the social media. I feel it’s best in the interest of the nation if the media carries out criticism and thereby ensures refining of the country’s overall system. “If media confines itself to levelling allegations, we would lose our power as a nation,” Modi said.

A similar suggestion had been mooted by the Information and Broadcasting Minister under the UPA government.

In August 2013, then Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari had suggested that journalists answer one main exam similar to a Bar exam that lawyers answer to practice in court.

"I think a good starting point would be that rather than possibly prescribing a curricula which is then standardised across institutions, possibly the media industry could think about at least having a common exam."

"Like you have a bar exam, like you have a medical exam or exams which are conducted by other professional bodies, which then issue a license, which enables you to pursue your profession," Tewari had said at an event in New Delhi.

Former Press Council of India head Justice (retd) Markandey Katju had also raised the demand for minimum qualifications for journalists. Katju had then set up a panel to suggest qualifications for journalists and measures to regulate institutions and departments of journalism.