Digital-first independent newsrooms are facing systemic bureaucratic bias, frequently being denied formal state press accreditation compared to legacy print and television media. This outdated gatekeeping actively starves digital journalists of access to official government briefings, parliamentary sessions, and public records.
The Bharat Media Association demands an immediate modernization of press accreditation guidelines across all Indian states. Recognizing digital journalists as equal stakeholders is mandatory for maintaining a transparent, accessible, and progressive media ecosystem in the 21st century.
