[Reader-list] GoM for print media

[Shivam]

  Group of ministers to look into policies of print media 
  
  EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE          
  Posted online: Thursday, September 30, 2004 at 0201 hours IST
  http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=56088

  
NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 29: The proposal was to promulgate an ordinance
banning Indian edition of international newspapers, but the Cabinet
today bought time by forming a group of ministers for a comprehensive
look at the policies in print media.

Following pressure from the Left parties, Information & Broadcasting
Ministry had suggested amendment in the Press and Registration of
Books Act to stop publication of The International Herald Tribune from
India. It had also suggested that the ordinance should prevent
syndication of content beyond 7.5 per cent.
 
However, the Cabinet today decided to to float a GoM which would
''view in one go'' the past decisions of the NDA government and the
emerging scenario for a comprehensive view of the print media sector,
I&B Minister S. Jaipal Reddy told reporters.

The Cabinet decided to set up the GoM ''not only to go into the
violations that may occur, but also to look at the entire policy
paradigm,'' Reddy said.

To a query on when the GoM would be constituted, Reddy said the Prime
Minister would take a decision about its composition.

According to Reddy, the Cabinet considered amendments to certain
sections of the PRB Act of 1867, and took note of the resolution
adopted in 1955 ''which did not want publication of foreign magazines
and newspapers in India''.

The decisions of the NDA government to permit 26 per cent foreign
direct investment in publications, periodicals and newspapers dealing
with news and current affairs were also taken into account, he added.