Journalism will soon have an eligibility criterion

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, March 12: Blaming the lack of an eligibility criterion for poor reportage, Markandey Katju, Press Council of India (PCI) chairperson said that a committee has been set- up to 'recommend the minimum qualification required to become a journalist''.

The committee includes PCI members Shravan Garg, Rajeev Sabade and Dr Ujjwala Barve, associate professor, Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune.

"In the law profession, an LLB degree as well as registration in a bar council is required. Similarly, for entry into the medical profession the necessary qualification is an MBBS degree and also registration with the medical council," Katju said.

"To become a teacher, a teacher's training certificate or degree is required so was the case with other professions,"he added. Katju said that this was lacking in the field of journalism.

"Hence very often persons with little or inadequate training in journalism enter the profession, and this often leads to negative effects, because such untrained persons often do not maintain high standards of journalism," he said.

He said that the team will look into all aspects and submit a report which will suggest the qualification required to enter journalism.

"On receipt of the report I intend to place it before the full press council, and after getting its approval I shall forward it to the government for initiating suitable legislation for this purpose," Katju said.

He has requested the central and state government and journalism departments and institutes across the country to co-operate with him.

He was quoted saying that the media has an important influence on the lives of people and hence it is necessary that an eligibility criterion be fixed. "There are no doubt that many institutions impart teaching in journalism (some of which is very unsatisfactory) but there is as yet no legal requirement for having any qualification before entering the profession," he added.

OneIndia News