UKHRUL: Breaking from conventional accreditation practices, Nagaland has become one of the few states to officially recognize digital media platforms and freelance journalists under its newly notified News Media Accreditation (Revised) Rules, 2025, which the government describes as “more inclusive and aligned with the evolving media landscape.”
The Government has notified the Nagaland News Media Accreditation (Revised) Rules, 2025 vide Government Notification No. IPR/MEDIA/6-2/2016, pursuant to the approval of the Cabinet conveyed vide letter No. CAB-1/14/2023 dated 18th December 2025. According to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Nagaland, “The revised rules broaden the scope of accreditation to cover satellite channels, electronic media (news and current affairs), digital media platforms, freelancers and technicians associated with electronic media ensuring wider representation of journalists engaged in news dissemination and media services.”
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This expansion represents a significant departure from the previous framework, which primarily catered to traditional print media, wire and non-wire service news agencies, radio organizations, and television channels. The inclusion of digital media platforms is particularly significant, as online news portals and independent digital journalists have become increasingly prominent in Nagaland’s media ecosystem in recent years. Meanwhile, the recognition of freelancers and electronic media technicians addresses a long-standing gap in the accreditation framework, which had previously focused primarily on full-time employees of established media organizations.
Key Changes from Earlier Rules
Under the previous rules, accreditation was granted with specific quotas, allowing a maximum of six cards for daily newspapers published in Nagaland, one for news agencies and periodicals, and one for regional or national newspapers and magazines published outside the state. The earlier framework required a minimum of three years of service in a news organization as a working journalist for eligibility, with accreditation cards valid until 31st March each year requiring annual renewal.
The previous rules had constituted a Nagaland State News Media Accreditation Committee headed by the Chief Secretary as Chairman, with the Secretary or Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Information and Public Relations serving as Vice Chairman, and the Director of IPR as Member-Secretary. The committee also included editors of media organizations, a representative from private television channels, and members from Press Clubs of Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung. It is learned that the committee was mandated to meet at least once in six months.
According to the superseded rules, holders of press accreditation cards were entitled to free access to government offices and officers, public functions and ceremonies, exemption from entry fees to state government exhibitions, free bus travel in State Government Undertaking buses within Nagaland, and access to special information cells. However, the rules also provided safeguards, stating that “the Inquiry Committee shall not come to any conclusion against the journalist concerned unless due opportunity to defend himself has been provided to him” in cases of complaints or cancellation proceedings.
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Under the earlier framework, all applications required recommendation from the chief of the media institution, with organizations needing to submit a “No Dues Certificate” from the Press Council of India and registration with the Registrar of Newspapers for India. Moreover, cancellation provisions included reassignment outside the state, termination of employment, or being censured at least twice by the Press Council of India for professional misconduct.
The revised rules supersede all earlier rules, orders and notifications on the subject, bringing the state’s media accreditation framework in line with contemporary journalistic practices and technological realities. Further details regarding specific provisions, eligibility criteria, application procedures, and the composition of the revised accreditation committee are expected to be made available by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations in due course.