Staff Reporter

Shillong, Oct 5: The Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) which is an umbrella body of all media houses in Meghalaya has decided to write to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) against private YouTubers for trying to misguide the general public by posing as journalists or media personnel.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the MEPA held in Shillong.

In a statement, MEPA general secretary John W Thabah said that the association has received complaints from journalists and reporters regarding the presence of private YouTubers who performed journalistic duty through news coverage, attending official functions, press conferences and press briefings in the different districts.

Complaints have also been received that there were private YouTubers who pasted ‘Press’ tags in their vehicles.

“The MEPA in a meeting held in Shillong today has decided to clarify to all concerned including members of the public that authorised media houses are those which have registered with the Registrar of Newspapers of India (RNI) and empanelled with the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Government of Meghalaya,” he said.

Besides, media personnel, reporters, correspondents, freelance journalists have to obtain the identity card issued by their respective media house (newspaper, TV channel, digital channel) Accreditation Card issued by the DIPR.   

“Therefore, in order to avoid any confusion and prevent any attempt by certain individuals to take advantage, the MEPA will soon write to the DIPR on this matter for necessary steps to be taken so that the members of the public are not misused or misguided by any individuals posing as journalists or media personnel,” Thabah said.

He further informed that during today’s meeting, the MEPA has decided to express solidarity with the various media organisations in India who have decided to write to the Chief Justice of India to draw his attention to the continued attempts to throttle press freedom in the country as happened recently with some journalists in Delhi.