New challenges boil up as the pro-government lawmaker of Un'goofaaru constituency Jaufar Dawood's presented media commission bill is expected to drop the anvil on online media outlets that are mostly operated without a designated office.
Article number 53 of the new media commission bill demands all media outlets to operate within a designated office space and was deemed mandatory.
The article specifies that every media registered at the commission must have an official venue for operation. The article had further included the requirements of such a venue to meet in order to get recognized officially as a media office.
This includes the company's name reflected on a sign or board outside the building along with opening hours and operational days.
The bill also dictates a new disciplinary policy put in place governing all operational media outlets, while upholding constitution and protecting the greater interest of nation and its government was subjected and ordered. Apart from this, the disciplinary policy also demands unbiased news and operating without an external influences to media outlets as well as to protect the name and interests of individuals.
The new media commission bill suggested that media outlets found in violation of these conditions could be fined with no less than 2% of the total income of past two years, while temporary halt on transmission could be issued by Media Commission.
Both news media and journalists are subjected for a fine between MVR 10,000 and MVR 100,000 if they were found in violation of the operating or policy standards and regulations. In addition to this, the bill grants Media Commission the right to declare temporary suspension on both news outlets and journalists til pressed charges and following case proceeds to completion.
