Documents Required ( Journalist) :

A.Correspondent/cameraperson: (At least five years of experience as a full time working journalist) :

1. Salary slips from present and previous employers.
2. Byline clippings ( of articles and photos in case of newspapers covering various years of experience).
3. Relieving letter/Service certificate(from previous employers)
4. Recommendation letter of editor/ Head of editorial department in original addressed to Pr. Director General seeking accreditation of the correspondent/cameraperson (current employer).
5. Copies of certificates of educational and professional qualification.
6. Photo to be uploaded on PIB online form.

B.Freeelance Journalist: (At least fifteen years’ experience as a full time working journalist) :

1. Copies of employment letter with terms and conditions, post, salary etc from all employers.
2. Salary slips from all employers.
3. Relieving letters or service certificates from all employers.
4. CA certificate for income prescribed in guidelines, in original (after a year of freelance work), or valid proof of income from tie-up of freelance work
5. Byline clippings of articles/photos covering various years of experience
6. Copies of certificates of educational and professional qualification.
7. Proof of present freelance work ( News clippings, tie-up of freelance work etc).
8. Photo to be uploaded on PIB online form.

C.Foreign Journalists( Correspondent/Cameraperson) : At least five years’ experience as a full time working journalist :

1. Copy of passport ( verified against original)
2. Salary slips from all employers.
3. Recommendation letter from Editor/Bureau Chief in original, also stating that applicant has minimum five years of experience of full time working journalist.
4. Photo to be uploaded on PIB online form.

Documents (For validation of Organization)

• Newspapers/ Periodicals
  1. RNI registration certificate.
  2. Circulation certificate issued by the RNI/ABC showing the latest circulation of the Newspaper/ periodical.
  3. Issues of the newspaper/periodical as under :-
     1. Last six months’ issues ( In case of Daily Newspaper)
     2. Last one year’s issues ( In case of Weekly/Fortnightly)
• News Agency / Photo News Agency/ News Feature Agency
  1. Latest list of subscribers.
  2. Copies of agreement with the subscribers to supply news on regular basis.
  3. Details of payments duly verified by Chartered Accountant for the annual revenue of the agency earned during the last one year.
  4. Clippings of published news/ news-features/ news photos during the last one year bearing the credit line of the agency.
  5. Certificate of incorporation under Companies Act.
  6. Memorandum of Association.
• Electronic Media(TV/Radio Channel)
  1. Balance-sheet to show annual revenue of last financial year.
  2. Up-linking /telecast permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India to ascertain date of commencement of telecast.
  3. Permission/Authorization by the Ministry of Telecommunication.
  4. Details of News & Current Affairs telecast in a day/Fixed Point Chart.
  5. Memorandum of Association.
• TV/Radio Production Organization/Agencies
  1. Proof of annual income like CA certificate etc as prescribed in guidelines
  2. List of channels to which supplying news content.
  3. Copies of agreement with subscribers for supplying news stories regularly
  4. Certificate of incorporation under Companies Act.
  5. Memorandum of Association
  6. Certification along with documentary proof regarding supply of news and news related content of prescribed duration to TV/Radio channels.

PIB can ask for any other document in physical form to verify the antecedents of applicant/organization.

1. WHO CAN APPLY FOR RENEWAL OF PIB ACCREDITATION CARD?

• All journalists holding valid PIB card for the year 2024 are eligible to apply for renewal of PIB Card, 2025.

2. WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO BE UPLOADED?

JOURNALIST WORKING WITH MEDIA ORGANISATION

• All journalists (Correspondents/Camerapersons) are required to upload self-attested copy of recommendation letter of the Editor of the organization duly signed, dated and stamped. The following documents are also required to be uploaded compulsorily

• For Print Media :

  • Submission of latest Circulation Certificate issued by RNI/ABC.
  • Submission of Latest Annual Statement filed with RNI for last 3 years (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21).
  • Organisations having circulation between 10000 to 25000 are required to submit circulation certificate issued by CAG/RNI empanelled Chartered Accountant.

• For Electronic Media:

  • M/o I&B Uplinking/Downlinking permission from.
  • Submission of latest Uplinking/Downlinking Annual permission fee payment receipt issued by M/o I&B.
• For Print Media Agencies :
  • List of subscribers certified by the Head of the organisation.
• For Electronic Media Agencies:-
  • List of subscribers certified by the Head of the organisation.
  • Valid permission from M/o I&B under the unlinking and down-linking guidelines
• In case of Editors, a self-recommendation letter can be uploaded duly signed, stamped and dated.

3. IS ONE RECOMMENDATION LETTER PER JOURNALIST ESSENTIAL FROM THE ORGANISATION?

• No. The Editor can send a combined letter for all the journalists working in the organisation whose card is proposed to be renewed.

• Individual journalists can upload combined letter by manually ticking the name on the list for easy identification.

4. WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS A FREELANCE JOURNALIST IS EXPECTED TO UPLOAD?

FREELANCE CORRESPONDENT/ CAMERAPERSON

• (a) Scanned copies / links of 20 by-line clippings / videos published / broadcast during the year 2021 with by-line credits and date/name of publication / broadcastclearly visible.
• (b) In case of photographers, if news reporting crediting their name as photographer are not available, a letter from the editor(s) of media organisation(s) clearly stating that the applicant has regularly contributed to news reporting in the organization, with a list of news stories covered by the applicant has to be submitted.
• (c) Freelance journalist has to submit an Undertaking regarding employment details as done last year.

5. WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS A FOREIGN JOURNALIST IS REQUIRED TO UPLOAD ?

• (a) Recommendation letter from the Editor.
• (b) Self-attested copy of valid Passport and valid J-Visa.