The BJP-led NDA government has decided to shut out private news channels and give preference to state-run broadcasters to cover events like the prime minister's foreign visits and exclusive interviews by ministers.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Bimal Julka sent a letter in this regard on Saturday to the directors and joint directors handling the media in every ministry.

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers assumed office in May, the government had restricted access to information for private news channels and newspapers. Modi also did away with the convention of touring foreign countries with a large media contingent and has travelled with a small group of reporters mostly from the state-run media.

According to sources, information of all key decisions taken by the government will now be 'broken' on the state-run Doordarshan, All India Radio and other official websites. Private broadcasters and news agencies will be given access information only after state-run Doordarshan flashes the news.

Information and broadcasting secretary Julka's letter informed officials of all the ministries that top government officials and ministers should give priority to state-run media over private news channels and newspapers.

The letter further directed the officials and ministers must give exclusive interviews first to state-run broadcaster Doordarshan and the state-run radio network All India Radio in Hindi, English and regional languages.

Similarly, it was also informed to the ministries that the government's key decisions must also be accessed first by state-run broadcasters and the government's news service division after which they would given to private channels and news agencies , sources said.





 

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