Press Council of India (PCI)
The PCI was established under the PCI Act of 1978.
Aim: It aims to preserve the freedom of the press and maintain and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.
Composition: The PCI consists of a chairman and 28 other members.
The Chairman is selected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and a member elected by the PCI.
The members serve on the Council for a term of three years.
A retiring member shall be eligible for renomination for note more thna one term. (max 2 consecutive terms)
Funding :-
- The Council is funded by the revenue collected by it as fee levied on the registered newspapers in the country on the basis of their circulation.
- No fee is levied on newspapers with circulation less than 5000 copies. The deficit is made good by way of grant by the Central Government.
Functions: The functions of the PCI include
- Helping newspapers maintain their independence.
- Build a code of conduct for journalists and news agencies.
- Help maintain “high standards of public taste” and foster responsibility among citizens.
- Review developments likely to restrict flow of news.
Powers: The PCI has the power to receive complaints of violation of the journalistic ethics, or professional misconduct by an editor or journalist.
The PCI is responsible for enquiring into complaints received.
It may summon witnesses and take evidence under oath, demand copies of public records to be submitted, even issue warnings and admonish (warn) the newspaper, news agency, editor or journalist.
Decisions of the PCI are final and cannot be appealed before a court of law.
Limitations on the powers of the PCI: The powers of the PCI are restricted in two ways.
The PCI has limited powers of enforcing the guidelines issued. It cannot penalize newspapers, news agencies, editors and journalists for violation of the guidelines.
The PCI only overviews the functioning of print media. That is, it can enforce standards upon newspapers, journals, magazines and other forms of print media.
It does not have the power to review the functioning of the electronic media like radio, television and internet media.
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