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Abstract The Tamil Nadu News Media Representative Accreditation (Headquarters) Rules 2002 – Orders Issued. INFORMATION AND TOURISM (PR) DEPARTMENT G.O.Ms.No.10 ORDER : The Government have revised the Rules for accreditation to the Press persons representing newspapers, news agencies and news producing television organisations, etc. as given in the Annexure to this order. 2. These rules supersede all previous Rules for accreditation of Press persons at the Headquarters. 3. The Tamil Nadu News Media Representative Accreditation (Headquarters) rules 2002 found in the Annexure shall come into force with immediate effect and will be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. (BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR) V.RAMADOSS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT. To The Secretary to Governor, Raj Bhavan, Chennai The Secretary to Chief Minister, Chennai-9 The Secretary to Govt., Information & Tourism Dept., Chennai-9 The Director of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9 The Director of Stationery and Printing, Chennai-2 (for publication in Govt. Gazette) The Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, New Delhi The Press Information Bureau, Chennai-6 The Secretary, All India Newspapers’ Editors Conference, New Delhi The President, Indian Federation of Working journalists, New Delhi The Secretary – General, National Union of Journalists, New Delhi The President, Madras Reporters Guild, Chennai-2 The President, Tamil nadu Union of Journalists, Chennai-2 The Chief Minister’s Office, Chennai-9 The Spl. P.A. to Minister for Information & Publicity, Chennai-9 The Law Department, Chennai-9 SF / SC -/ forwarded / by order /- SECTION OFFICER ANNEXURE THE TAMIL NADU NEWS MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE ACCREDITATION (HEADQUARTERS) RULES, 2002 1. Short title, commencement and application : (1) These rules may be called the Tamil Nadu News Media Representative Accreditation (Headquarters) Rules, 2002. (2) These rules shall come into force at once. (3) These rules shall apply to the accreditation of News Media Representative by the Government. 2. Definition : In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, - (a) “accreditation” ,means recognition accorded to News Media Representative by the Government for the purpose of access to source of information in the Government and also to news materials, written or pictorial, released by the Information and Tourism Department or other Departments of the Government; (b) “broadcating concern” means the All India Radio, Chennai; (c) “Committee” means the State News Media Accreditation committee constituted by the Government for the purpose of granting accreditation to the News Media Representative in the City of Chennai; (d) “Director” means the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Information and Tourism Department of the Government; (e) “Editor” means the person who is declared as the Editor by the newspaper under the press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 (Central Act XXV of 1867) (f) “feature agency” means an organisation which supplies articles on specific subjects or incidents for publication / broadcast / telecast; (g) “Form” means a form appended to these rules; (h) “Government” means the Government of Tamil Nadu; (i) “News Agency” means an organisation that supplies news reports to newspaper, magazines, Radio and Television stations and other users; (j) “News Media” means newspaper, news agency, feature agency, broadcasting concern, television; (k) “News Media Representative” means, -- (i) the Editor, Correspondent, Reporter, Photographer or Editor-cum-Reporter representing any newspaper, news agency, feature agency, broadcasting concern; (ii) Editor, Correspondent or Reporter or Camera man of Television; (l) “newspaper” means any daily publication containing public news or comments on Public matter (m) “Television” means the Doordarshan kendra, Chennai or any Television News Production Organisation. 3. Constitution of the Committee : - (1) The Government may constitute the State News media Accreditation Committee consisting of the following fourteen members for granting accreditation to News Media Representatives in the City of Chennai, namely : - (a) four members nominated by the All India Newspaper Editors Conference, (AINEC) New Delhi; (b) four members nominated by the Indian Federation of Working Journalists, (IFWJ), New Delhi; (c) one member nominated by the Madras Reporters Guild (MRG); (d) one member nominated by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), New Delhi; (e) one member nominated by the Tamil Nadu Union of Journalists, Chennai (TUJ); and (f) three member nominated by the Government of Tamil Nadu (Government Nominee) (2) The Director shall be the convenor of the Committee. (3) The Indian Federation of Working Journalists and the National Union of Journalists (India) shall nominate only those who are Reporters or Correspondents. 4. Functions of the Committee : - The Committee shall, -- (a) grant or withdraw accreditation to News Media Representatives; (b) renew accreditation to News Media Representatives; (c) review the list of accreditation of News Media Representatives; (d) ratify the grant of temporary accreditation given by the Director; and (e) review its own decision. 5. Term of office of the members of the Committee :- (1) The normal term of office of the members of the committee shall be two years from the date of their nomination and if, on the expiry of the term of office of such members, there is any delay in constituting a new committee, the existing members of the committee shall continue to function till the new committee is constituted. (2) If any vacancy is caused in the office of the member of the committee due to resignation, death, illness or any other reason before expiry of the period of two years, a new member may b nominated in the vacancy to hold office for the remaining period; Provided that the member to be nominated in the vacancy shall represent the category referred to in rule 3 in which the vacancy had occurred. 6. Meeting : - The Committee shall meet at least once in three months. 7. Quorum : - The quorum for the Committee meeting shall be not less than four members. 8. Notice of meeting : - The Director shall give seven clear days’ notice for convening a meeting of the Committee: Provided that in case of emergency; the director may convene a meeting after giving forty eight hours’ notice. 9. Application for Accreditation : - (1) Where an Editor of a newspaper or an Editor or Manager or Chief Executive of a news agency, feature agency, broadcasting concern or television desires accreditation as News Media Representative, he may make an application in the Form appended to these rules to the Director. (2) The Director shall place such applications after verification and with necessary remarks to the Committee for advice. 10. Circulation of names : (1) The applications together with such other details as may be available and particulars of proposals for accreditation, if any, shall be circulated by the Director to the members of the Committee along with the notice of the meeting. (2) The Committee may also consider any other application for accreditation about which proper intimation could not be given in time by the Director. 11. Accreditation : - (1) Accreditation can normally be granted to the newspaper, news agency, feature agency, which have been in existence for a period of not less than six months prior to the date of application for accreditation. (2) (a) In the case of suspension or closure of a newspaper, news agency, feature agency, for over a month, the newspaper, the news agency, feature agency, or Television shall surrender the accreditation forthwith to the Director. (b) If however, such newspaper, news agency, feature agency, or Television resumes publication or telecasting within a period of two months from the date of suspension or closure, the accreditation surrendered earlier may be restored by the Director on application being made to him in the form appended to these rules. (3) Temporary accreditation may be granted by the Director on application being made to him by a News Media Representative in the form appended to these rules; Provided that the temporary accreditation may normally be granted to a News Media Representative in the place of a regular accredited News Media Representative who is not able to function as such for any bonafide reason. 12. Issue of Temporary Accreditation Cards : - In respect of accreditation to a media, the Director may issue temporary accreditation card for a period of three months initially. The same may be renewed for a further period of three months by the Director, if there is no Committee meeting in between. Thereafter, for issue of regular accreditation card, the Director shall place the matter before the Committee for its decision. The Accreditation Card shall hear a passport or stamp size photograph of the accredited News Media Representative. 13. Accreditation in emergent cases :- The Director has the power to grant accreditation to a News Media Representative temporarily for a period of three months without the permission of the Committee in case of emergency. He should however, bring the fact to the notice of the Committee in its meeting held immediately after the grant of such temporary accreditation, for ratification. 14. Number of News Media Representatives to be accredited : - (1) In case of Television News Production Organisation, accreditation may be granted to a maximum of 10 representatives for each such organisation based in Tamil Nadu and 6 representatives for each organisation based outside Tamil Nadu. In the case of other News Media, accreditation may be granted to a maximum of nine representatives and two photographers. (2) For the Newspapers published outside Chennai, accreditation may be granted to a maximum of two News Media Representatives at Chennai, subject to the approval of the Committee. (4) In determining the number of News Media Representatives to be accredited for a newspaper, news agency, feature agency, broadcasting concern or television, the character and column of coverage required shall be taken into account. 15. Conditions for Accreditation :- Every person applying for accreditation in the City of Chennai as News Media Representative shall satisfy the following conditions, namely :- (a) He shall reside in the city of Chennai; (b) He shall be a working journalist as defined in the working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 ( Central Act 45 of 1955) and employed as a whole-time News Media Representative; or he shall be a correspondent, Reporter or Cameraman of Television; (c) He shall possess not less than three years of experience as a News Media Representative; (d) If he is a News Media Representative of a daily, the following factors in respect of the newspaper shall be taken into consideration, namely: - (i) Nature and type of the daily; (ii) Regularity of publication of the daily; (iii) Accreditation shall normally be limited a dailies which were in existence continuously for a period of six months prior to the date of application for accreditation with a minimum circulation of 5000 copies daily; (iv) Professional standing of the daily. (e) If the News Media Representative belongs to Television, the following factors shall be taken into consideration before granting accreditation, namely:- (i) Professional standing of the Television; (ii) Whether the Television is telecasting exclusive News Bulletins regularly, at least once a day; (iii) Whether the Television is in existence for a minimum period of three months. (f) If the News Media Representative belongs to a news agency, feature agency, the following factors shall be taken into consideration before granting accreditation, namely:- (i) Nature and type of agency; (ii) Professional standing of the agency; (iii) Method of distribution of services of the agency; and (iv) Area to which such news agency or feature agency are catered for. (g) If the News Media Representative is a photographer, the following factors shall be taken into consideration for granting accreditation, namely:- (i) Standing of the newspaper or news agency, feature agency, he represents; and (ii) Whether he is a professional press photographer and is a full time employee of the newspaper, news agency or gesture agency. (h) In the case of an Editor of a newspaper or news agency or feature agency or Television, who is also engaged in reporting, the following factors shall be taken into consideration for granting accreditation, namely :- (i) He shall reside in the City of chennai during the period of accreditation; and (ii) He shall possess not less than three years experience as an Editor or Reporter or Correspondent. (i) If he is an Editor-cum-Reporter of the newspaper, the following factors in respect of the newspaper shall be taken into consideration before granting accreditation, namely:- (a) Nature and type of the newspaper / news agency; (b) Its periodicity and regularity; and (c) Circulation and Professional standing. 15. Effect of Accreditation : - (1) Accreditation does not confer any official or special status on the News Media Representative. The Government merely recognise that the accredited News Media Representative represents the media, which employs him. (2) The accredited News Media Representative shall not have letterheads and visiting cards with the words “Accredited to the Government of Tamil Nadu”. 16. Accreditation is not transferable : - The accreditation accorded to a News Media Representative is not transferable. 17. Utilisation of Accreditation Card:- (1) The News Media Representative shall always carry the accreditation card whenever he attends the Press Conference convened by the Government or any authority of the Government. (2) The Accreditation Card shall not entitle a News Media Representative to attend or conferences or visits of VIPs where admission is restricted by invitation cards and security passes. 18. List of Accredited News Media Representative:- The Director shall maintain a list of Accredited News Media Representatives. 19. Review of the list of Accredited News Media Representatives:- The Committee shall, ordinarily, once in every six months, review the list of Accredited News Media Representatives. 20. Term of Accreditation :- Regular accreditation may be granted for a period of one year which shall terminate on the 31st December of each year. 21. Renewal of Accreditation :- (1) An application for renewal of accreditation shall be made by an Editor of a Newspaper or an Editor or Manager or Chief Executive of a News Agency, Feature Agency, Television in the form appended to those rules to the Director at least one month before the date of expiry of the validity thereof. Such application shall be placed by the Director before the Committee for its decision. (2) Every application for renewal of accreditation shall be made and disposed of as if it were an application for the grant of accreditation. 23. Withdrawal of Accreditation :- (1) The Accreditation granted to a News Media Representative is liable to be withdrawn if, - (a) he uses information and facilities accorded to him for non-journalistic purposes; (b) he behaves in the course of his duties as a News Media Representative, in an undignified or unprofessional manner; (c) he ignores or violates the conditions on which information and facilities are provided by the Government or acts contrary to any of the provisions of these rules; and (d) he causes willful publication of news which is incorrect or false, in so far as the Government are concerned. (2) Where the newspaper, news agency, feature agency, broadcasting concern, or television and not the accredited News Media Representative is responsible for the willful publication of incorrect or false news, the accreditation granted to the particular News Media Representative itself shall be liable to be withdrawn. Explanation;- “Publication” includes depicting through television or broadcasting through radio. 24. Notice of Termination of Accreditation to News Media Representatives :- When an accredited News Media Representative ceases to represents the media, such cesser shall be brought to the notice of the Director in writing by the Editor or the Manager or Chief Executive concerned, as the case may be, within fifteen days from the date of such cesser or if it comes to the knowledge of the Director by nay other means to the Committee for necessary action. 25. Surrender of Accreditation Card etc. Immediately on withdrawal of the accreditation by the Committee or on resignation, the News Media Representative shall surrender the accreditation card, bus pass and other facilities accorded to him. Failure to do shall entail in non-consideration of application of such person for accreditation for a period of these years. 26) Director to take action for withdrawal of accreditation : - Director shall on the advice of the Committee take action under rules 23 after the matter has been informed to the Editor of the newspaper or the Editor or Manager of the news agency, feature agency, broadcasting concern or television and after the party concerned, has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard by the Committee. In all cases where there is difference of opinion between the Director and the Committee, the matter shall be referred to the Government by the Director indicating his views along with the advice tendered by the Committee. 27. Forfeiture of Accreditation on account of absence : - An accredited News Media Representative who is continuously away for three months from the City of Chennai shall forfeit his accreditation, unless he has intimated in writing through his Editor or Manager, as the case may be, in advance of his absence. This period may be extended by a further period of three months on request from the Editor or the Manager concerned in writing. 28. Review by the Committee : - (a) Any News Media Representative who is aggrieved by any decision of the Committee may make a representation to the Committee for review. (b) Such representation shall be submitted within two months from the date on which the decision in question was communicated to the News Media Representative. 29. Representation to the Government :- (1) any News Media Representative who is aggrieved by the decision of the Committee under rule 28, may make a representation to the Government through the Director. (2) Such representation shall be submitted within two months from the date on which the decision in question was communicated to the News Media Representative. (3) The Director shall forward the said representation to the Government for their decision giving brief facts of the case and points involved, together with his opinion as well as the opinion of the committee in the matter. 30. Proceedings of the Committee not invalidated by vacancies, etc. :- No act or proceedings of the Committee shall become invalid merely by reason of the existence of any vacancy or of any defect or irregularity in the nomination of a member of the Committee. 31. Repeal and Savings:- (1) The Tamil Nadu State Representative Accreditation Rules, (Headquarters) 1993 are hereby repealed. (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, the News Media Representative already accredited under the rules repealed under sub rule (1) shall continue to remain so, for the period for which it was granted under the repealed Rules.
(sd..) V.RAMADOSS // True Copy // SECTION OFFICER
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