Overview
Recent protests organised by the CJP have highlighted a gap in the protection of journalists, especially freelancers and independent content creators. During the October 10 demonstration demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), police allowed only those with government accreditation to report, sending many freelancers to detention centres.
Key Developments
- Police barred freelancers and independent journalists from the protest site on October 10, 2026, permitting only reporters with Press Information Bureau (PIB) or Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) accreditation.
- A two‑judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking freedom of expression for freelance journalists.
- The CJI warned that if “everyone becomes a journalist,” it could create chaos, while senior counsel Indira Jaisingh called for a national protocol to protect journalists holding an employer‑issued identity card.
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta cautioned that mobile‑phone owners could falsely claim journalist status to push sensational content for profit.
Important Facts on Journalist Recognition
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code) defines a working journalist as a person whose principal avocation is journalism and who is employed in newspaper, electronic or digital media. It excludes managerial or administrative staff.
Both Central and State governments issue accreditation to four categories: working journalists, freelance journalists, camerapersons, and technicians. In Delhi‑NCR, the PIB accredits those covering the Central government, while the DIP handles Delhi State coverage. Accreditation eligibility depends on criteria such as newspaper circulation, news‑agency subscriber base, satellite licence, or digital unique visitors. Consequently, many journalists in recognised media houses still lack accreditation.
Exam Relevance
Understanding media regulation is essential for GS 2 (Polity) and GS 4 (Ethics). The debate raises questions about freedom of expression, the role of the judiciary in safeguarding press freedom, and the need for a statutory regulatory framework. Aspirants should note the parallels with professional bodies like the Bar Council of India (BCI), which set a precedent for licensing professions.
Way Forward
- Consider establishing a National Media Council to uniformly recognise all categories of journalists, freelancers, and technicians.
- Adopt a clear national protocol that prevents police obstruction of journalists holding a valid identity card from any recognised media entity.
- Introduce minimum educational or training standards (e.g., a degree/diploma in journalism) for licence issuance, mirroring the requirements for lawyers and doctors.
- Review and possibly amend the OSH Code and accreditation quotas to ensure broader coverage, especially for digital‑only news platforms.
These steps would balance the right to free expression with the need to prevent misuse of the journalist label, thereby strengthening democratic accountability and media credibility.