NEW DELHI: Digipub, an association of Indian digital news media publishers, has set up an independent, high-level ombudsman content review committee whose task will include the review of published contents.
The association, in a recently issued press release, revealed that some of its members already have an independent internal mechanism for review, while others are in the process of formulating them. The new content review committee is aimed at providing ''an additional voluntary layer of transparency on the part of member publications."
The independent content review committee set up by Digipub comprises retired Supreme Court justice Madan B Lokur, Prajnya Trust founder and director Swarna Rajagopalan, Safai Karamchari Andolan founder Bezwada Wilson; and Prasar Bharati ex-CEO & former secretary of the ministry of culture, Jawhar Sircar.
"As is evident, the independent committee we have established consists of individuals with an unimpeachable record and accomplishments in the fields of law, rights, gender and public administration," said Digipub.
The association also added that an independent content review committee is very much essential to uphold their commitment towards professional media ethics. The committee will also help readers to get in touch with Digipub if they have bona fide objections to any particular published content.
DIGIPUB News India Foundation, as an association of responsible publishers of digital news, is delighted to announce the formation of an independent, high level ombudsman process/content review committee. pic.twitter.com/y4hot9praY
— DIGIPUB News India Foundation (@DigipubIndia) March 26, 2021
"Digipub is in the process of working out the modalities of the committee’s functioning and work, including an appropriate and practical referral system, and will make those public in due course," read the statement.
Referring to the new IT Rules 2021, Digipub stated that any attempt by the government to regulate the content of news portals or publications will not only strike at the constitutional scheme but at democracy itself.
The Digipub News India Foundation consists of eleven digital news organisations; namely, Alt News, Article 14, Boomlive, Cobrapost, HW News, Newsclick, Newslaundry, The News Minute, Scroll.in, The Quint and The Wire.
