Patna: The Web Journalists Association of India (WJAI) has completed seven successful years in digital journalism, and the organisation is marking this journey with a rare achievement. In all these years, not a single official complaint has been filed against any of its member news portals, and no case of false or misleading news has been reported. WJAI leaders say this shows that their journalists and editors have followed strict ethical values and worked with honesty, balance and responsibility.
This strong record is closely linked to the Digital Media Ethics Code 2021, which was introduced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to make online journalism more responsible and transparent. Under these rules, the Web Journalists Standards Authority was approved as a Self-Regulatory Body (SRB) working under WJAI. This system allows digital news platforms to monitor themselves while still following the government’s code of conduct.
The SRB works in a clear and simple way. Every registered news portal must show a contact number and email address for public complaints. If someone raises an issue about a news report, the first step is to check the facts and try to solve the problem directly with the publisher. If this does not work, the case is taken to the SRB, where members nominated by the ministry hold a fair hearing. If no solution is reached, the complainant can approach the government. This process helps keep journalism honest and accountable.
WJAI President Anand Kaushal said the zero-complaint record reflects the hard work and ethical values of all members. General Secretary Amit Ranjan added that the SRB has increased transparency, while General Secretary Madhup Mani Pikku said the organisation also works to protect the rights of digital journalists and serve society. As digital news continues to grow in India, WJAI says its goal is to keep public trust strong by following the highest standards of journalism.
