• UGI USER
  • Aug 02, 2024
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INCREASED RESTRICTIONS IMPACT JOURNALISTS’ ACCESS IN PARLIAMENT

Why in the news?

  • Journalists in Parliament and government functions are facing increasing restrictions and scrutiny, impacting their ability to cover events freely.
  • The heightened security measures in the press gallery of the Rajya Sabha began after a security breach in December 2023, marking a significant change in the level of surveillance and access for journalists.

Changes in Access and Security

  • Entry to the press gallery has been limited to two people per organization since COVID-19, with separate entries for journalists, officials, and MPs in the new Parliament building.
  • Journalists now undergo multiple security checks and are confined to specific areas, reducing their ability to interact freely with MPs and capture informal interactions.
Source:statistica

Impact on Media and Democracy

  • Restricted access at government functions and Parliament limits journalists’ ability to engage with officials and gather comprehensive stories.
  • This curtailment of press freedom poses a threat to democratic transparency, as an inquisitive media is essential for holding power to account and ensuring the flow of truthful information.
About World Press Freedom Index (WPFI)

  • Definition: The WPFI is an annual ranking of countries’ press freedom compiled by RSF, a France-based international NGO, since 2002.
  • Scope: It focuses solely on press freedom, not the quality of journalism or general human rights violations.
  • Categories Assessed: The index covers political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and security.
  • Purpose: It reflects the freedom of journalists, news organizations, and netizens in each country and the efforts made by authorities to respect this freedom.

About India in World Press Freedom Index 2024

  • Rank :159out of 180 countries.
  • Crisis in Press Freedom: 9 journalists and 1 media worker detained; no journalist/media worker killed since January 2024.
  • Draconian Laws: New laws, including the Telecommunications Act 2023 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, grant the government significant media control.
  • Media Dominance: Close ties between the ruling party and major media families, with the Reliance group owning over 70 outlets followed by 800 million Indians.
  • Journalist Harassment: Critical journalists face online harassment, threats, physical attacks, prosecutions, and arrests; Kashmir remains particularly concerning with police and paramilitary harassment.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/indias-press-freedom/