WJAI Recommends Qualifications for Digital Media Operators in National Broadcasting Policy Meet

New Delhi: An important consultation took place at Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi to discuss the formulation of the National Broadcasting Policy 2024. The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, gathered input from self-regulatory bodies (SRBs) representing the country’s digital media and OTT platforms.

Chaired by Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the meeting included Director Neeraj Kumar and Deputy Director Deepali Sharma. Jaju emphasized the broadcasting sector’s potential to significantly bolster the Indian economy. He noted that the policy aims to position India as a global broadcasting leader, outlining a comprehensive ten-year roadmap with a particular focus on the next five years.

Representing the Web Journalists Standards Authority (WJSA), the self-regulatory unit of the Web Journalists Association of India (WJAI), National Vice President Sanjeev Ahuja suggested that the government should establish regulations ensuring that only qualified individuals or those with a journalism background can operate digital media outlets. This, he argued, would help maintain the integrity of journalism. His proposal received positive feedback from the Ministry and other representatives present.

The Secretary also attentively considered other suggestions from WJAI and assured that they would be taken into account in the policy’s development.