Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 20:
(Resolutions adopted by the special general body meeting held on 19th June, 2005 near Power House office, Keishampat in connection with the sit-in-protest in support of Manipur Hill Journalists� Union�s agitation against the threat to the Freedom of Press).
1) No claim made by unidentified sources/person(s) over telephone will be entertained.
In case of identification, editors will decide.
2) No press conference called by any individual or body without official invitation will be accepted.
3) All press releases of any organisation have to be duly signed with the organisational seal on the letterhead.
4) All press releases of any organisation(s) must be issued before 8 pm for morning dailies/3 pm for Eveningers/ 4.00 pm for cable news channels.
5) In case of conflict/controversies between two or more parties, views of parties concerned will be given equal coverage.
6) If the arguments and counter arguments raised become harmful to the state and could claim human lives, the AMWJU reserves the right to censor.
7) In the event of an organisation or individual desiring to withdraw any press-release before being printed the same organisation or individual who signed the press-release must approach the concerned.
8) If any individual/organisations have any grievances (except petty or small matters which can be resolved by the editor) against any newspaper, the concerned should first approach the AMWJU to address the problem.
9) All newspapers/media person will follows the norms of journalistic conduct as laid down by the Press Council of India (PCI).
10) Editors are advised to refrain from sensationalizing any news report or indulging in sensationalism.
11) Editors will bear the responsibility for mistake or omission/commission appearing in their newspapers.
12) All editors have the rights to censor/delete partly or as a whole any news report or press-release or interview or press conference which could create communal tension or group clashes.
13) In case of violation of the Code of Conduct laid down by the AMWJU by any reporter/newspaper, the AMWJU will initiate punitive action against the reporter/newspaper.
14) It is the prerogative of an editor to publish or not to publish a news report or a press-release.
15) A report of a newspaper should not be contradicted by another newspaper in the form of a rejoinder or an advertisement or as news report.
Even if necessity arises, the version of the newspaper concerned be taken by the other newspaper before any such publication.
16) Press releases of any organisation should be made available to all offices of the press/newspaper/media organisation by the organisation on its own.
No press/newspaper/media organisation should be given the responsibility to distribute the press-release(s).
17) Editors will not entertain any Diktat from any quarter to publish or not to publish a news report or press-release.