The Commissioner, Information and Public Relations Department, Hyd in his letter has informed that the State Government has constituted the Accreditation Committee under the Chairmanship of Sri K. Ramachandra Murthy for preparing Telangana State Media Accreditation Policy/ Rules / Guidelines in place of existing A.P. Media Accreditation Rules,2005. The Committee has examined and reviewed the existing Accreditation Rules issued vide G.O.Ms.No.96, G.A(I&PR)Dept., dt. 08.03.2006, clause by clause and submitted its report duly recommending certain amendments in the existing rules wherever felt necessary. The recommendations of the committee were re-examined in the series of 
meetings attended by the Hon’ble Chairman, Telangana State Press Academy, Hyderabad, Commissioner, Information and Public Relations Department and two representatives of each of three Journalists Union and finalized the Accreditation Policy/ Guidelines, keeping in view the requirement in the present media setup.
The Commissioner, Information and Public Relations Department, I&PR has proposed the draft Telangana Media Accreditation Rules 2016 and requested to adopt the A.P. Media Accreditation Rules 2005 as amended in the proposal.
Telangana Media Accreditation Rules 2016
1. SHORT TITLE AND APPLICATION:
a) These rules may be called the “Telangana State Media Accreditation Rules, 2016”.
b) These rules shall apply to grant of accreditation to the Media Representatives at the State Level and in the Districts of Telangana State.
2. DEFINITIONS: In these rules unless the context otherwise requires:
a) “Accreditation” means the recognition of a Media representative by the Government for the purpose of access to all sources of official information in the Government.
b) “Accreditated Media Representative” means the Media Representative who has been granted accreditation in accordance with these rules.
c) “Big Daily” means Newspaper having a circulation of above 75,000 copies per day or as decided by the Registrar of Newspapers of India from time to time;
d) “Bureau Chief” means the Head of the Bureau of a Newspaper or Periodical or News Agency or Satellite News Channel or Cable News Channel at State or District Level.
e) “Cable News Channel” means a cable television network registered under Cable Television Networks (Regulations) Act, 1995 having at least 3 news bulletins of 30 minutes every day.
f) “Collector” means the Collector of the District concerned;
g) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Special Commissioner or the Director;
h) “Committee” means the State or the District Media Accreditation Committee.
i) “Department” means the Information and Public Relations Department;
j) “DPRO” means the District Head of the District concerned;
k) “Editor” means the person who is declared as Editor of Newspaper/ Periodical / News Agency / Satellite News Channel / Cable News Channel.
l) “Electronic News Media” means Satellite News Channel or Cable News Channel.
m) “Government” means the Government of Telangana.
n) “Government Media Unit” means;
i. The news unit of Doordarshan, All India Radio, Press Information Bureau, News Reel Unit and periodical of Government of India.
ii. The Publicity Cell, Media Relations Section, Photo Section, Publication Section, Video Unit, News recording unit, Periodical unit, PR wing and Information Engineering wing of the Information and Public Relations Department.
iii. The News Unit of the Telangana State Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation (TSFTvTDC).
o) “Media Representative” means the Press Representative, Government Media Representative, Electronic News Media representative;
i. “Press Representative” means the Editor, Bureau Chief, Correspondent,
Reporter, Desk Journalist, Photographer, Cartoonist, Sports Correspondent, Cultural Correspondent or Film Correspondent representing any Newspaper, Periodical, News Agency.
ii. “Government Media Representative” means the representative of Official Media Units of the Government of India, Government of Telangana and Telangana State Film,
Television and Theater Development Corporation.
iii. “Electronic News Media Representative” means the Editor, Bureau Chief,
Correspondent, Reporter, Desk Journalist, Sports Correspondent, Cultural
Correspondent, Film Correspondent of any Electronic News Media.
p) “News Media” means the Newspaper or Periodical or News agency or Electronic News Media.
q) “News Paper” means a daily newspaper containing news of public interest in at least 50% space out of total print area;
r) “Medium Daily” means Newspaper having circulation between 25,001 to 75,000 copies per day or as decided by the Registrar of Newspapers of India from time to time.
s) “Small Daily” means the Newspaper having a circulation upto 25,000 copies per day or as defined by the Registrar of Newspapers of India from time to time;
t) “Periodical” means ‘weekly’ or ‘fortnightly’ or ‘monthly’ containing news of public interest other than caste based and religion based periodicals having a circulation of at least 2,000 copies per issue in the State.
u) “News Agency” means the ‘News agency’ dealing with News of Public Interest and supplying the same to Newspapers / Periodicals / Electronic News Media.
v) “Satellite News Channel” means a News and Current Affairs TV Channel broadcast through satellite in India and approved/permitted by the Ministry of I&B, Govt. of India and having at least 50% of the content as news.
w) “Working Journalist” means any journalist as defined in the Working Journalists (Conditions of Service and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1955 & as per the recommendations of Majithia Wage Board and as amended from time to time.
x) “Notice” means seven days notice in advance to the members of the Accreditation Committee prior to the date of meeting. In case of emergency 48 hours prior intimation to the date of meeting.
y) “Quorum” means a minimum of half of the total members of the Accreditation Committee.
z) “State” means the State of Telangana;
3. TERM AND COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE:
1. (a) There shall be a State Media Accreditation Committee for the State and a District Media Accreditation Committee for every district in the State;
(b) The term of the said committees is two years from the date of appointment. However the Committee shall continue to function till a new committee is constituted. The Committee shall meet once in three months or as and when necessary.
(c) In case of resignation or death of a member, the vacancy shall be filled with an alternative member, by obtaining nomination from the respective body or by getting nomination from the nominating authority, as the case may be.
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4. SCOPE AND PERIOD OF ACCREDITATION:
a) Accreditation may be given in accordance with the rules to the Editors /Media Representatives at the State level and in the Districts as recommended from time to time by the Committee concerned. The members of the State Media Accreditation Committee shall also be given accreditation at State level.
b) Accreditation is personal and not transferable;
c) Accreditation shall not confer any official or any special status for media representatives;
d) Accreditation shall be issued to a media representative to pursue the profession of journalism and not for any other purposes;
e) An accredited media representative shall not use the words “Accredited to the Government of Telangana” on visiting cards, letter heads or on any other form or on any other literature;
f) When an accredited media representative ceases to represent the media organization on whose behalf he /she is accredited or when the Newspaper or Periodical or News agency or Electronic News Media ceases to function, the fact shall be brought to the notice of the Commissioner /Collector in writing within (fifteen) 15 days by both the representative and the Editor /Bureau Chief and the accreditation card shall be returned to the Commissioner or the Collector. If the representative fails to surrender the accreditation card within three months from the date on which he /she ceases to represent the organization, he /she shall not be extended the accreditation facility for a period of two years, even if he /she represents any other organization subsequently. If any accredited Media representative ceases to represent the media organization and fails to surrender the card, the organization also should be made accountable and the Media organization shall not be issued another card applied in place of the un surrendered card, even if the organization is eligible otherwise.
g) The period of accreditation for the Media Representatives at the State Headquarters and at District shall be for two years.
h) Officers of any Department authorized by the Commissioner or the Collector shall be permitted to cross check the circulation and other details of the Newspapers /Periodicals /News Agency /Electronic News Media.
i) The Members of the Committee authorized by the Commissioner /Collector shall be permitted to make surprise and random checks to verify the circulation and other details of the Newspapers /Periodicals /News Agency /Electronic News Media.
5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR NEWSPAPERS:
The following factors are to be taken into consideration for issue of accreditations in respect of Newspapers:
(a) A daily newspaper having RNI Certification and a minimum circulation of 2,000 copies is eligible for accreditation to its Representatives.
(b) The minimum size of the daily newspapers for accreditation eligibility shall be as mentioned in the Schedule A to E.
(c) The contents of the newspapers shall include news emanating from the Government and its departments on social, political, economic, developments and other matters of public interest / public importance. The newspaper should contain 50% news out of the total print area, such as articles, reports, editorial, current news but not fiction;
(d) A daily newspaper shall be published not less than 6 (Six) days in a week.
(e) A daily Newspaper is entitled for one accreditation to its Editor or to the Correspondent recommended by the Editor from the date of its commencement initially. The additional accreditations
shall be considered only after empanelment with Commissioner or after completion of six months period from its date of commencement whichever is later.
(f) No daily Newspaper shall be extended accreditation facility without Registrar of Newspapers of India registration number.
(g) The Big and Medium Newspapers shall submit Audit Bureau of Circulation or Indian Readership Survey Certificate in support of the circulation claimed and the Chartered Accountant Certificate shall not be accepted as proof of circulation. However, the Committee may consider the Chartered Accountant Certificate as proof of circulation in case of new dailies for a maximum period of three years from the date of commencement.
(h) The Small Newspapers shall submit either Audit Bureau of circulation or CA certificate as proof of circulation.
(i) The entitlement of number of accreditations at State and District Headquarters for big, medium and small dailies shall be governed by the criteria mentioned in Schedules A to E appended.
(j) The management of Newspapers shall supply one copy of their daily newspaper each to the office of the Commissioner and D.P.R.O. of the district concerned depending upon its place of publication and shall obtain acknowledgment on at least 25 days of every month.
6) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR PERIODICALS:
The following factors are to be taken into consideration in respect of periodicals:
(a) A periodical having a minimum circulation of 5,000 copies having empanelment with Commissioner is eligible for issue of Accreditation to its Editor or its representatives at the State level;
(b) A periodical having a minimum circulation of 2,000 copies is eligible for issue of accreditation to its Editor or its representatives at the district level at publishing centre only;
(c) No periodical shall be extended accreditation facility without valid RNI registration;
(d) Periodical shall submit ABC or Chartered Accountant Certificate in support of the circulation claimed.
(e) The contents of the periodicals shall include news emanating from the Governments and its Departments and 50% of articles should be on current, social, political, economic and other matters of public interest:
(f) A Weekly shall publish not less than 45 (forty five) issues, a fortnightly not less than 22 (twenty two) issues and a monthly not less than 11 (eleven) issues in a year;
(g) The eligibility criteria for accreditation to the periodicals are mentioned in the Schedule-H;
(h) The Minimum standing of the periodical shall be one year.
(i) The big, medium and small magazines as per category A,B and C (as decided by Commissioner) are eligible for accreditations as shown in schedule H subject to fulfillment of other prescribed conditions.
Telangana State Journalist Accreditation Rules 2016
7. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR NEWS AGENCIES:
The following factors are to be taken into consideration for issue of accreditation in respect of news agencies at State level or local news agencies at District Level:
(a) The news agency shall be registered under Shops and Establishments Act, Companies Act at the time of commencement and its standing should be more than five years at State level and three years at Districts;
(b) The news agency should have a minimum staff of 5 (five) including two correspondents and one Photographer;
(c) The minimum gross annual income of the news agency at state level should be more than Rs.10,00,000/- from journalistic activities;
(d) The News Agency should have minimum ten paying subscribers from among empanelled newspapers.
(e) The News Agency at District level must have an average workload of atleast 100 news items per month in last one year published with By-line/Date line in their names and submit clippings of the same for consideration of issue of accreditations.
(f) The News agency shall have Computer with internet facility, Telephone or fax facilities and messenger service to supply news or photographs to its subscribers;
(g) The News agency shall submit the Annual Income Certificate by the Chartered Accountant along with application for fresh or renewal of accreditations;
(h) The nature of service of news agency shall be responsible, impartial and non-communal in nature;
(i) The entitlement for News agencies attached to a single Newspaper are already included in the entitlement of Newspaper and no additional Accreditation shall be issued.
(j) The entitlement for Accreditation for News Agencies at State Level and District level is detailed in Schedule I and J.
8. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR ELECTRONIC NEWS MEDIA:
(a) The Electronic News Media having a minimum standing of one year is eligible for accreditation;
(b) The nature of telecast shall be responsible, impartial, non-communal and shall uphold the social and cultural fabric of this country;
(c) Only Satellite Channels with 50% news content and Cable News Channels having telecast of minimum 3 news bulletins of 30 minutes each day are eligible for accreditation.
(d) The Cable Channels must be registered under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.
(e) The satellite channel must be approved / permitted by Ministry of I&B, Govt. of India.
(f) The entitlement of accreditations as detailed in the Schedule-F and G;
9. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES:
The representatives of Newspapers, Periodicals, Satellite News or Cable News Channels, News Agencies such as Editors, Bureau Chiefs, Correspondents, Reporters, Desk Journalists, Photographers, Correspondent-cum-Photographers, Correspondent-cum-Cameramen, Sports, Films, Cultural Correspondents, Cartoonists etc., shall fulfill the following conditions for issue of accreditation:
(a) His / her full time avocation shall be profession of journalism;
(b) The State Media Accreditation Committee shall issue accreditations at State level to the media representatives who fulfill the norms prescribed in these rules;
(c) The Media Representative’s residence shall be within the State or Delhi for issue of accreditation at State level;
(d) The Dist. Media Accreditation Committee shall give accreditation at the District/ Constituency/Mandal level to the bonafide media representatives who fulfill the norms stipulated in these rules;
(e) The Media Representative’s residence shall be within the district for which accreditation is sought for issue of accreditation at District/Constituency/Mandal level;
(f) Accreditations at State level / District level shall be given only on the basis of authorization
given by the Editor/Bureau Chief of the concerned Media Organisation.
(g) Accreditations at Constituency/Mandal level shall be given on the basis of letter from Editor or Bureau Chief. In case of Big Newspapers, if the letter from Editor or Bureau is not available then the Accreditation can be given on the basis of producing press clippings written by them for the Newspaper in which he / she is working with their By-line. The number of press clippings shall not be less than ten per month for six months prior to his/her application.
(h) He / She shall not be an employee of any other organization including Government Department, Public Sector Undertakings and Local Bodies etc.,
(i) The Correspondents and Desk Journalists at State and District level must be having qualification of a degree in any subject from a recognized University or must possess accreditations for the last ten consecutive years.
(j) The Correspondents and Desk Journalists at Constituency level must be Intermediate passed and those at Mandal level must be SSC passed or having equivalent qualification.
(k) He/ She shall have spent not less than five, three and two consecutive years in the profession of journalism for accreditation at State level, District level and at Constituency/Mandal level respectively. The proof of experience for the correspondents at Constituency/Mandal level shall be the identity card issued by the management or the earliest news clipping written with by-line on his/her name.
10. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR INDEPENDENT CORRESPONDENT/ PHOTOGRAPHER/ CARTOONIST:
(a) An independent correspondent/ photographer/cartoonist who has experience of a minimum of 10 years in a newspaper or news agency or Government media or Electronic News Media may be considered for issue of accreditation on his/her application if his/her principal avocation continues to be journalism.
(b) An independent correspondent shall submit at least twelve articles published with by-line of his / her name in big / medium dailies in the year preceding to the date of application.
(c) Independent photographers/Cartoonists shall submit at least twenty four photo /cartoon clippings published in big/medium dailies in the year preceding to the date of application along with a certificate to the effect of submission by him/her from the respective organizations.
(d) The veteran journalists, who have put in not less than 25 years in the field of Journalism, can be issued accreditation as Independent Journalist on application.
(e) Retired officers of the I & PR Department in the rank of Public Relations officer or above closely associated with media during their tenure of service and pursuing the activity of journalism can be considered for issue of accreditation on application.
11. ELIGIBILITY CRETERIA FOR GOVERNMNT MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES:
a) He / She shall have minimum one year experience in the media units of Government of India or State Government or TSFTvTDC.
b) The following categories may be considered for issue accreditations to Media units namely:-
(1) GOVERNMENT OF INDIA:
(a) The News Editor/ Correspondents/Cameramen of News Unit of Doordarshan;
(b) The New Editor/ Correspondents of the News Unit of All India Radio;
(c) The Representatives of the Press Information Bureau;
(d) The News Reel Officer of Films Division;
(e) The Representatives of the Periodicals of the Government of India.
(2) STATE GOVERNMENT – I & PR DEPARTMENT:
(a) The Officers and staff of PR wing of the level of Publicity Assistant and above
(b) The Officers of Information Engineering wing up the level of Information Technician and above.
(c) Photographers/Assistant Photographers
(d) Video cameramen/Assistant Video Cameramen;
(e) The Operators working in the News Recording Unit;
(f) The Representatives of the State Government periodicals.
(3) TELANGANA STATE FILM, TELEVISION AND THEATRE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION:
(a) The Representatives of the level of Assistant Manager and above.
(b) The Video cameramen/Assistant Video cameramen.
12. PROCEDURE FOR ACCREDITATION:
(a) The Editor / Bureau Chief / Head of the Govt. Media Unit / Independent Journalist shall apply to the Commissioner for issue of accreditation for the media representatives at State level and to the Collector for Media Representatives in the District in the prescribed proforma. A Constituency / Mandal level correspondent of big newspapers may apply for accreditation at the Constituency / Mandal level directly after satisfying the conditions laid down in the Rule 9
(g) . In case, letter from the Editor/Bureau Chief is not available, in such cases, the DPRO shall verify the credentials of correspondent and make a recommendation to the Committee for accreditation.
(b) All the applications for accreditation shall be placed before the respective Committee and accreditation will be granted on the recommendations of the Committee by the Commissioner at State level and Collector in the Districts.
(c) If the Committee decides not to grant accreditation to an applicant, the fact of such decision shall be recorded in its minutes and communicated to the organization or individual concerned, if requested.
(d) If the Editor requests the Commissioner through the Collector for increasing the number of accreditations at a place close to publishing centers, while agreeing to reduce that number from its quota of the publishing centers, the Commissioner may authorise for transfer of a maximum of five accreditations from the publishing center to the nearby place on the merits of the case;
(e) The Commissioner, at State level and the Collector in the District may issue temporary accreditation, in special cases, to the Media representatives for maximum period of three months in a year to facilitate them to cover specific events.
13. WITHDRAWAL OF ACCREDITATION:
(1) The Committee/Commissioner/Collector may suspend, withdraw the accreditation issued to any media representative under the following circumstances:
(a) If an accredited representative is engaged in non-journalistic activities or conducts himself/herself in an unprofessional or undignified manner or uses his professional offices for unprofessional or unethical purposes:
(b) If an accredited representative is found to have given false information fully about himself/herself or about his/her organization and if the committee, after given reasonable opportunity is satisfied that the charges are true;
(c) If the Government/Commissioner gives permission to prosecute the accredited representative for defamation.
(d) If the organization ceases to function or ceases to fulfill the conditions of eligibility;
(e) If the representative ceases work in the organization;
(f) If the Editor or Bureau Chief or Head of the Media Unit or Private Electronic Media wants cancellation of accreditation to their representatives.
(g) If the Newspaper/Periodical/News agency do not give accurate and authentic circulation figures, gross annual income and other data as prescribed in these rules.
14. APPEAL:
The aggrieved applicant or organisation shall be entitled to make an appeal for reconsideration to the Commissioner for district level accreditation and to the Secretary, Information and Public Relations for State level accreditation.
15. REVIEW:
(a) There shall be a review of the list of accreditation by the SMAC and by the DMAC annually;
(b) For purposes of such a review, information regarding circulation, gross revenue and eligibility criteria as prescribed in these rules are to be furnished by the organizations;
(c) The Commissioner/Collector may communicate the decision of State Media Accreditation Committee/District Media Accreditation Committee as the case may be to the concerned organizations whenever necessary.
16. Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, Government shall be free to take any action warranted by circumstances in the matter relating to accreditation and the decision of the Government shall be final.
G.O.Ms.No.239 Dated:15.7.2016 Read the following:- 1. G.O.Ms.No.96, G.A(I&PR)Dept., dt.08.03.2006 2. G.O.Ms.No.108, G.A(Ser.A)Dept., dt.24.02.2015 3. G.O.Ms.No.197, G.A(I&PR)Dept., dt.23.05.2016 4. G.O.Ms.No.65, G.A(I&PR)Dept., dt.01.03.2016 5. From the Commr,I&PR., Lr.No.8604/MR/2015,dt.25.05.2016
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