Privacy Policy
Official documentation and procedural guidance for the Media Verification System.
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Code of Conduct
Official Guidelines & Code of Conduct
All media owners (digital, print, TV) and journalists associated with News Media Council are
required to adhere to the directives of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the
media laws of the Government of India — specifically the IT Rules, 2021 (Digital Media Intermediary
Guidelines), Press and Registration of Books Act (RNI Act), and the new PRGI Act 2024 (Press and
Registration of Periodicals Act) — as well as the ethical values of journalism, subject to the following
guidelines:
1. Annual Renewal Policy for Registration and Press Card
- 12 Months Validity: The registration certificate of any media company (digital, print, or broadcast) registered with the NMC Council and the NMC Press ID Card issued to reporters/journalists will be valid for 12 months (1 year) only.
- Mandatory Renewal: It will be mandatory to renew the card every 12 months upon expiry. The certificate of a company or the card of a journalist that is not renewed will automatically be considered Invalid, and its use will be considered a legal offense.
2. Accuracy & Fact-Checking
- Zero Tolerance Policy: It is mandatory to fact-check any news before publishing or broadcasting it. Running rumors, forwarded social media posts, or baseless information as 'news' is strictly prohibited.
- If any news proves to be false, the media organization must immediately remove that news and publish a 'Correction/Apology' in clear words.
3. Zero Tolerance for Extortion and Yellow Journalism
- The profession of journalism or the NMC Press ID Card cannot be used to intimidate, threaten, or gain financial advantage (blackmailing) from any person, government official, or organization.
- Reporting done to settle personal scores or with the intention of tarnishing someone's image (Yellow Journalism) will be considered illegal. Upon proving such a complaint, the registration/ID card will be immediately canceled by the Council, and legal police action will be taken.
4. National Security & Social Harmony
- Do not broadcast any content that poses a threat to the integrity, security, or law and order of the country.
- Provocative news or headlines that incite hatred (Hate Speech) or violence between two religions, castes, or communities are strictly prohibited.
5. Privacy & Sensitivity
- Concealing the identity of victims: Displaying names, photos, or videos that reveal the identity of victims coming under rape, molestation, or POCSO Act (especially women and children) is a legal offense.
- Do not show gruesome visuals (Blood/Gore) of suicides or serious accidents without blurring them.
- Do not interfere in any person's private life without reason.
6. Authorized Use of ID & Logo
- One Nation, One Card: The ID card issued by NMC is limited strictly to reporting and performing journalistic duties.
- This card cannot be used to break traffic rules or to exert undue pressure on toll taxes by writing 'PRESS' on vehicles.
- Using the card after it has been suspended or canceled will constitute the crime of 'Impersonation'.
7. Grievance Redressal Mechanism
- As per IT Rules 2021, every registered digital, print, and TV media must mandatorily display the name and email of a 'Grievance Officer' on their website/channel.
- It is mandatory for the media organization to resolve any legal complaint from a viewer or reader within 15 days. If the issue is not resolved in Level-1 and Level-2, the complaint will come directly to the Council (Level-3 SRB).
Declaration: News Media Council reserves the absolute right to cancel the
recognition and membership of any member who violates these guidelines without any prior notice.
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