AMWJU, EGM Appeal Against Misuse and Unauthorised Reproduction of Media Content

Imphal: The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) have expressed concern over the increasing misuse, distortion and unauthorised reproduction of news reports, newspaper clippings and electronic-media content by social-media pages, groups, YouTube channels and other digital platforms.

A joint committee constituted by AMWJU and EGM to examine and monitor the issue has appealed to social-media administrators and content creators to observe the following basic norms:

1. Official links may be freely shared. AMWJU and EGM have no objection to sharing links from the official websites, Facebook pages, YouTube channels and other official platforms of media organisations.

2. Do not distort or misrepresent media content. News clips, photographs, headlines and reports should not be edited, cropped or presented in a manner that changes their meaning or falsely attributes views to a media organisation or journalist.

3. Do not re-upload electronic-media content without permission. Downloading or recording television news, interviews, discussions and other programmes and republishing them as one's own content should be avoided.

4. Do not reproduce newspapers in real time. YouTube and other social-media channels are requested not to read out, display or reproduce substantial portions of newspapers immediately after publication. Page-by-page or article-by-article narration can effectively substitute purchase of the newspaper and adversely affect its circulation.

5. Limited quotation for genuine review, discussion or criticism is welcomed. The concern is substantial reproduction of the original content without adding meaningful independent commentary or analysis.

6. Local newspaper PDFs may be shared after 4:00 PM on the date of publication, provided they are complete and undistorted and subject to any restriction imposed by the concerned publisher.

7. Always acknowledge the source. The concerned newspaper, television channel, media organisation and journalist, wherever applicable, should be properly credited.

AMWJU and EGM emphasise that the appeal is not intended to restrict legitimate sharing, criticism, discussion or commentary on news. It seeks to protect professional journalism from distortion, impersonation and unauthorised reproduction that damages the credibility and economic sustainability of recognised media organisations.

Share the source. Discuss the news. Don't distort or substitute the original.

Issued jointly by

All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU)

Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM)

Read more

Journalism in Manipur: Moving Beyond Selective Truths